Method of screening TGF-β-inhibiting substances

ABSTRACT

A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide.

This Application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/529,279; filed Apr. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,617, which is a National Phase Application of PCT/JP98/04796; filed Oct. 22, 1998, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1. The present invention also relates to a method for screening substances that inhibit the signal transduction of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The present invention further relates to substances and uses thereof obtainable by the method for screening substances that inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1.

BACKGROUND ART

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multilfunctional factor that controls various aspects of cell functions. As one such function, TGF-β is responsible for the repair and regeneration of tissues associated with various injuries (Border, W. A. & Noble, N. A., The New England Journal of Medicine (1994) 331, 1286-1292).

An abnormal production of TGF-β in chronic injuries can sometimes disturb balances in the repair and regeneration of tissues resulting in pathological fibrosis. As a pathological condition in which the balance of TGF-β production has been disturbed, hepatic fibrosis is known. It has been elucidated that TGF-β acts as a main causative agent of fibrosis of various organs such as the liver, by enhancing the production of extracellular matrix protein that can cause fibrosis, inhibiting the synthesis of proteolytic enzymes of extracellular matrix, and by inducing substances that inhibit proteolytic enzymes of extracellular matrix (Border, W. A. & Noble, N. A., The New England Journal of Medicine (1994) 331, 1286-1292).

Other known functions of TGF-β include the activity of inhibiting cellular growth (Moses, H. L. et al., Cell (1990) 63, 245-247), the activity of migrating monocytes (Wahl, S. M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1987) 84, 5788-5792), the activity of inducing biologically active substances (Wahl, S. M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1987) 84, 5788-5792), the activity of facilitating the deposition of amyloid β protein (Wyss-Coray, T. et al., Nature (1997) 389, 603-606), and the like.

TGF-β transduces its signals through heteromer complexes of type I and type II TGF-β receptors and transmembrane proteins containing the serine- and threonine-specific kinase domains at the side of cytoplasm (Wrana, J. L. et al., Nature (1994) 370, 341; Kingsley, D. M. et al., Genes Dev. (1994) 8, 133). However, much of the mechanism of signaling downward from the TGF-β receptor into the cell on the molecular level remains to be elucidated.

As a series of systems involved in the signal transduction of the TGF-β superfamily, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is known.

The MAPK system is a conserved eukaryotic signaling system that converts signals of a receptor into various functions. The MAPK system contains three types of protein kinases, i.e. mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). MAPK is activated through phosphorylation by MAPKK. MAPKK is activated through phosphorylation by MAPKKK (Nishida, E. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. (1993) 18, 128; Blumer, K. J. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. (1993) 19, 236; David R. J. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. (1993) 19, 470; Marchall, C. J. et al., Cell (1995) 80, 179).

TAK1 (TGF-β-activated kinase 1), that is a member of the MAPKKK family that functions in the signaling system of biologically active substances and that belongs to the TGF-β superfamily, was identified by Yamaguchi, K. et. al. (Yamaguchi, K. et al., Science (1995) 270, 2008).

TAB1 (TAK1 binding protein 1), a protein involved in the signaling system of TGF-β that binds to and activates TAK1, was identified by Shibuya, H. et al. (Shibuya, H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182).

Although TAB1 transduces the signal of TGF-β by binding to TAK1 and activating TAK1 kinase activity, no attempts have been made so far to search for substances that inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1 in order to suppress or activate signal transduction of TGF-β by focusing on the binding between TAK1 and TAB1.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to provide a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1. The present invention is also intended to provide a method for screening substances that suppress or activate the signal transduction of TGF-β. The present invention further is intended to provide substances that are obtainable by a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1.

Thus, the present invention provides (1) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (2) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (3) a screening method described in the above (1) and (2), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide; and/or

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (4) a screening method described in the above (1) to (3), which comprises using a TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and/or a TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (5) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the labeled TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the labeled TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (6) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide to the labeled TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the labeled TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (7) a screening method described in the above (5) and (6), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide; and/or

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (8) a screening method described in the above (5) to (7), which method comprises using a TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and/or a TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide. Preferably, said labeled TAK1 polypeptide or said labeled TAB1 polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide or a TAB1 polypeptide that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme or a fluorescent substance.

The present invention also provides (9) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide by a primary antibody against the TAK1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the primary antibody is a primary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope or an enzyme. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (10) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide by a primary antibody against the TAB1 polypeptide. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the primary antibody is a primary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme or a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (11) a screening method described in the above (9) and (10), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide.

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (12) a screening method described in the above (9) to (11), which method comprises using a TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and/or a TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (13) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide said TAK1 polypeptide being bound to the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide by a primary antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide or a TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the primary antibody is a primary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope or an enzyme. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (14) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide said TAB1 polypeptide being bound to the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, by a primary antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide or a TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the primary antibody is a primary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (15) a screening method described in the above (13) and (14), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide; and/or

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (16) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide by a primary antibody against the TAK1 polypeptide and a secondary antibody against the primary antibody. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the secondary antibody is a secondary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme or a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (17) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide by a primary antibody against the TAB1 polypeptide and a secondary antibody against the primary antibody. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the secondary antibody is a secondary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme or a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (18) a screening method described in the above (16) and (17), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide; and/or

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (19) a screening method described in the above (16) to (18), which method comprises using a TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and/or a TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide.

The present invention also provides (20) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide said TAK1 polypeptide being bound to the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, by a primary antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide and a secondary antibody against the primary antibody. Preferably, the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide is a TAB1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the secondary antibody is a primary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme or a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (21) a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide said TAB1 polypeptide being bound to the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, by a primary antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide and a secondary antibody against the primary antibody. Preferably, the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide is a TAK1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, that has been bound to a support. A preferred support is beads or a plate. Preferably, the secondary antibody is a secondary antibody that is labeled with a radioisotope, an enzyme a fluorescent substance. In another preferred embodiment, the contact between a TAK1 polypeptide, a TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample is carried out in a homogeneous system.

The present invention also provides (22) a screening method described in the above (20) and (21), which method comprises using a TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide; and/or

a TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or having an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The present invention also provides a kit for conducting the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a substance that is obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an inhibitor of signal transduction of TGF-β, said inhibitor comprising a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of signal transduction of TGF-β, said activator comprising a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of the enhancement of extracellular matrix protein production, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of the enhancement of extracellular matrix protein production, said activator comprising as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of the inhibition of cellular growth, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of the inhibition of cellular growth, said activator comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of monocyte migration, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of monocyte migration, said activator comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of the induction of a biologically active substance, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of a biologically active substance, said activator comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of an immunosuppressive action, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of an immunosuppressive action, said activator comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides a suppressor of the deposition of amyloid β protein, said suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

The present invention also provides an activator of the deposition of amyloid β protein, said activator comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance that inhibits binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, obtainable by the screening method as set forth in any of the above (1) to (22).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO. 9) is a diagram showing the construction of human TAB1-FLAG and human TAK1-6×His.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing binding between human TAK1-FLAG and human MBP-TAB1C-FLAG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing binding between human TAB1-FLAG and human TAK1-6×His.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the activity of inhibition of binding between human TAK1-6×His and human MBP-TAB1C-FLAG, determined using TAB1-FLAG as an inhibiting substance.

FIG. 5A is a graph showing the amount of fibronectin determined in the culture supernatant of the HT/NEO cells, the HT/DN2 cells and the HT/DN14 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of fibronectin in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells. FIG. 5B is a graph showing the amount of fibronectin determined in the matrix extract of the HT/NEO cells, the HT/DN2 cells and the HT/DN14 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of fibronectin in the matrix extract prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing the amount of fibronectin determined in the culture supernatant of the MES/NEO cells, the MES/DN3 cells and the MES/DN6 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of fibronectin in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells. FIG. 6B is a graph showing the amount of fibronectin determined in the matrix extract of the MES/NEO cells, the MES/DN3 cells and the MES/DN6 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of fibronectin in the matrix extract prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the amount of type I collagen determined in the culture supernatant of the MES/NEO cells, the MES/DN3 cells and the MES/DN6 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of type I collagen in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the amount of type IV collagen determined in the culture supernatant of the MES/NEO cells, the MES/DN3 cells and the MES/DN6 cells with and without the addition of TGF-β1. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of type IV collagen in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the result of a two-hybrid assay using the CHO cells. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the luciferase activity in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the amount of PAI-1 in the culture supernatant when TGF-β1 was added to the Mv1Lu cells. The values represent the mean+/−S.D. of the amount of PAI-1 in the culture supernatant prepared from three different wells.

FIG. 11 (encompassed by positions 437-504 of SEQ ID NO: 2) is the activity in Miller Units of β-galactosidase of a yeast L40 that was transformed with an amino terminal-truncated TAB1 mutants (TAB1C45TAB1C20) and the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1. The measurement was conducted three times and the result is expressed in the mean+/−S.D. The values represent a ratio based on the β-galactosidase activity of the yeast L40 that was transformed with TAB1C68 and the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1.

FIG. 12 (encompassed by positions 437-504 of SEQ ID NO: 2) is the activity in Miller Units of β-galactosidase of a yeast L40 that was transformed with a carboxy terminal-truncated TAB1 mutants (TAB1C45Δ14TAB1C45 Δ25) and a yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1. The measurement was conducted three times and the result is expressed in the mean+/−D.D. The values represent a ratio to the β-galactosidase activity of the yeast L40 that was transformed with TAB1G68 and the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1.

FIG. 13A is the result of Western analysis of TAK1 and FLAG-TAB1 contained in the immunoprecipitate obtained using anti-TAK1 antibody in the presence or absence of each peptide. FIG. 13B is the result obtained by quantifying the density of bands each obtained by Western analysis and then by correcting the amount of the co-precipitated FLAG-TAB1 with the amount of TAK1. The values represent values relative to that obtained in the absence of the peptide which was set as 1.

FIG. 14 (encompassed by positions 437-504 of SEQ ID NO: 2) shows the ability of the TAB1 deletion mutants (TAB1C68, TAB1C45, TAB1C40, TAB1C35, TAB1C30 and TAB1C25) to bind to and activate TAK1.

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be any TAB1 polypeptide, as long as it has an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and the biological activity of the TAB1. It has been demonstrated that the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide is the activity of binding to and activating the TAK1 polypeptide.

More specifically, it has been demonstrated that the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide is the activity of binding to a region containing the catalytic domain of the TAK1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising an amino acid Met at position 1 to an amino acid Glu at position 303 of the TAK1 polypeptide and activating the kinase activity of the TAK1 polypeptide to the MAPKK. In the present invention, however, the TAB1 polypeptide is only required to have the activity of binding to the TAK1 polypeptide and may be a TAB1 polypeptide that has lost the activity of activating the TAK1 polypeptide. Accordingly, the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide as used herein may be the activity of binding to the TAK1 polypeptide.

The TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be a TAB1 polypeptide that has the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide and that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. More specifically, the TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may have an amino acid sequence in which one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 20, and more preferably one or not greater than 10 amino acid residues are substituted in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, as long as it has the biologically activity of the TAB1 polypeptide.

Alternatively, the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 may be modified by deletion of one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 436, and more preferably one or not greater than 10 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 may also be modified by addition of one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 30, and more preferably one or not greater than 20 amino acid residues. The TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may also be modified by simultaneous substitution, deletion, and/or addition of the above amino acids.

It has been elucidated that the TAB1 polypeptide exhibits its biological activity as long as it has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Gln at position 437 to amino acid Pro at position 504 in SEQ ID NO: 2. Thus, the TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be a TAB1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Gln at position 437 to amino acid Pro at position 504 in SEQ ID NO: 2, or has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Asn at position 436.

The TAB1 polypeptide may be a TAB1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Gln at position 437 to amino acid Pro at position 504 in SEQ ID NO: 2, as long as it has the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide.

As a TAB1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, there can be mentioned a TAB1 polypeptide in which amino acid Ser at position 52 has been replaced with Arg and a TAB1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Gln at position 437 to amino acid Pro at position 504.

It is already known that a polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of an amino acid sequence retains its biological activity (Mark, D. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1984) 81, 5662-5666; Zoller, M. J. & Smith, M. Nucleic Acids Research (1982) 10, 6487-6500; Wang, A. et al., Science 224, 1431-1433; Dalbadie-McFarland, G. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1982) 79, 6409-6413).

The TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be any TAK1 polypeptide al long as it has an amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and the biological activity of TAK1. It has been demonstrated that the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide is the activity of binding to the TAB1 polypeptide and the kinase activity to MAPKK at an activated state.

More specifically, it has been demonstrated that it is the activity of activating the kinase activity of MAPKK by exhibiting the kinase activity at an activated state thereby phosphorylating MAPKK, for example MKK3 (Moriguchi, T. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1996) 271, 13675-13679) and XMEK2/SEKI (Shibuya, H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182). In the present invention, however, the TAK1 polypeptide is only required to have the activity of binding to the TAB1 polypeptide and may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has lost the kinase activity of the TAK1 polypeptide. Accordingly, the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide as used herein may be the activity of binding to the TAB1 polypeptide.

It has been elucidated that the TAK1 polypeptide exhibits its biological activity as long as it has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Gln at position 303 in SEQ ID NO: 4. Thus, the TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Gln at position 303 in SEQ ID NO: 4, and an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Tyr at position 304 from amino acid Tyr to amino acid Ser at position 579. The TAK1 polypeptide may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Gln at position 303, as long as it has the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The TAK1 polypeptide is activated by the binding of the TAB1 polypeptide to a region containing a catalytic domain of a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Glu at position 303 of the TAK1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. In accordance with the present invention, it has been disclosed that the TAK1 polypeptide binds to the TAB1 polypeptide at the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Val at position 76 to amino acid Gln at position 303 of the TAK1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. Although the TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Val at position 76 to amino acid Gln at position 303 of the TAK1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 did not exhibit any kinase activity, it has the activity of binding to the TAB1 polypeptide, and therefore it can be used in. the present invention.

Thus, it may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Val at position 76 to amino acid Gln at position 303 in SEQ ID NO: 4 and an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at position 1 to amino acid Ile at position 75 and amino acid Tyr at position 304.

The TAK1 polypeptide may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Val at position 76 to amino acid Gln at position 303 in SEQ ID NO: 4, as long as it has the activity of binding to the TAB1 polypeptide. The biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide may also be activated by deleting at least 21 amino acid residues at the amino group-side terminal (N-terminal) of the TAK1 polypeptide.

The TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be a TAK1 polypeptide that has the biological activity of TAK1 polypeptide and an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4. More specifically, the TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may have amino acids that are substituted with one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 20, and more preferably one or not greater than 10 amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, as long as it has the biologically activity of the TAK1 polypeptide.

Alternatively, the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 may have amino acids in which one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 276, and more preferably one or not greater than 10 amino acid residues are deleted. Or, the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 may have amino acids in which one or more than one, preferably one or not greater than 30, and more preferably one or not greater than 20 amino acid residues are added.

As a TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, there can be mentioned a TAK1 polypeptide of a mouse origin in which amino acid Gly at position 16 is replaced with Ser, amino acid His at position 372 is replaced with Arg, amino acid Ala at position 400 is replaced with Val, amino acid Thr at position 403 is replaced with Ala, and amino acid Thr at position 449 is replaced with Ala.

It is already known that a polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of an amino acid sequence retains its biological activity (Mark, D. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1984) 81, 5662-5666; Zoller, M. J. & Smith, M. Nucleic Acids Research (1982) 10, 6487-6500; Wang, A. et al., Science 224, 1431-1433; Dalbadie-McFarland, G. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1982) 79, 6409-6413).

The polypeptides for use in the present invention differ in the amino acid sequence, molecular weight, isoelectric point, the presence or absence of an added sugar chain, the position of an added sugar chain, the structure of a sugar chain, the state of phosphorylation, and/or the presence or absence of a disulfide bond depending on the species from which they are derived, the host that produces them, and/or the method of purification. However, polypeptides having any structure may be used as long as they can be suitably used in the present invention. Preferably, the species from which the polypeptide is derived is human.

As DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention, there may be mentioned a nucleotide sequence comprising base A at nucleotide position 30 to nucleotide G at position 1541 of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. Furthermore, DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention can be of any origin as long as it has the base sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. Such DNA includes, for example, genomic DNA, cDNA, and synthetic DNA. They may be DNA obtained from a cDNA library and a genomic library obtained from various cells, tissues, or organs, or from species other than humans, and they may be a commercially available DNA library. Vectors for use in such libraries may be plasmids, bacteriophages, YAC vectors, and the like.

DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be DNA that hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and encodes a polypeptide having the biological activity of TAB1. As a condition under which DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide hybridizes, there may be mentioned a stringent condition.

Such conditions include, for example, a low stringent condition. By way of example, a low stringent condition is a washing condition provided at room temperature in 2×SSC and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. More preferably, there may be mentioned a high stringent condition. By way of example, a high stringent condition is a washing condition provided at 60° C. in 0.1×SSC and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. It is already known that a polypeptide encoded by a DNA that hybridizes under a suitable condition to a base sequence encoding a polypeptide has the same biological activity as the polypeptide.

E. coli that has the plasmid TABI-f-4 containing DNA encoding the human TAB1 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at amino acid position 1 to amino acid Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 was designated as Escherichia coli DH5α (TABI-f-4) and has been internationally deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Jul. 19, 1996, with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, of 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan, as the accession number FERM BP-5599.

E. coli that has the plasmid pBS-TAB1 containing DNA encoding the above human TAB1 polypeptide that comprises amino acid Met at amino acid position 1 to amino acid Pro at amino acid position 504 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and in which amino acid Ser at position 52 has been replaced with Arg was designated as Escherichia coli HB101 (pBS-TAB1) and has been internationally deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Apr. 19, 1996, with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, of 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan, as the accession number FERM BP-5508.

As DNA encoding the TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention, there may be mentioned a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotide A at nucleotide position 183 to nucleotide G at position 1919 of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. Furthermore, DNA encoding the TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention can be of any origin as long as it has the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3. Such a DNA includes, for example, genomic DNA, cDNA, and synthetic DNA.

They may be DNA obtained from a cDNA library and a genomic library obtained from various cells, tissues, or organs, or from species other than human, and they may be a commercially available DNA library. Vectors for use in such libraries may be plasmids, bacteriophages, YAC vectors, and the like.

DNA encoding the TAK1 polypeptide for use in the present invention may be DNA that hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 and encodes a polypeptide having the biological activity of TAK1. As a condition under which the DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide hybridizes, there may be mentioned a stringent condition.

Such conditions include, for example, a low stringent condition. By way of example, a low stringent condition is a washing condition provided at room temperature in 2×SSC and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. More preferably, there may be mentioned a high stringent condition. By way of example, a high stringent condition is a washing condition provided at 60° C. in 0.1×SSC and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. It is already known that a polypeptide encoded by a DNA that hybridizes under a suitable condition to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide has the same biological activity as the polypeptide.

E. coli that has the plasmid pEF-TAKI containing DNA encoding the above mouse TAK1 polypeptide was designated as Escherichia coli MC1061/P3 (pEF-TAK1) and has been internationally deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Sep. 28, 1995, with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, of 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan, as the accession number FERM BP-5246.

E. coli that has the plasmid pEF-TAK1DN containing DNA encoding the mouse TAK1 polypeptide that has a deletion of 21 amino acids at the N-terminal was designated as Escherichia coli MC1061/P3 (pEF-TAK1DN) and has been internationally deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Sep. 28, 1995, with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, of 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan, as the accession number FERM BP-5245.

E. coli that has the plasmid phTAK1 containing DNA encoding the human TAK1 polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Met at amino acid position 1 to amino acid Ser at amino acid position 579 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and was designated as Escherichia coli JM109 (phTAK1) and has been internationally deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Jul. 19, 1996, with the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, of 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan, as the accession number FERM BP-5598.

Polypeptides for use in the present invention may be the above polypeptides that are fused to another peptide or polypeptide. Such fusion polypeptides may be produced by a known method. Another peptide or polypeptide subjected to fusion with the polypeptide may be any peptide or polypeptide as long as it can be advantageously used in the present invention. As such peptides, for example, known peptides may be used including FLAG (Hopp, T. P. et al., BioTechnology (1988) 6, 1204-1210), 6×His comprising 6 His (histidine) residues, 10×His, influenza hemaglutinin (HA), fragments of human c-myc, fragments of VSV-GP, fragments of p18HIV, T7-tag, HSV-tag, E-tag, fragments of SV40T antigen, lck tag, fragments of a-tubulin, B-tag, fragments of Protein C, and the like.

As polypeptides, there may be mentioned, for example, GST (glutathione S-transferase), HA, the constant regions of immunoglobulin, β-galactosidase, MBP (maltose-binding protein), and the like. They may be commercially available polypeptides.

DNA encoding the polypeptide for use in the present invention may be generated by constructing the above-mentioned DNA using commercially available kits or by known methods. There may be mentioned, for example, digestion with a restriction enzyme, addition of a linker, insertion of an initiation codon (ATG) and/or a stop codon (ATT, TGA or TAG), and the like.

Expression vectors for use in the present invention may be any expression vectors as long as they can be suitably used in the present invention. As expression vectors, there may be mentioned expression vectors derived from a mammal such as pEF and pCDM8, expression vectors derived from an insect such as pBacPAK8, expression vectors derived from a plant such as pMH1 and pMH2, expression vectors derived from an animal virus such as pHSV and pMV, expression vectors derived from a yeast such as pNV11, expression vectors derived from Bacillus subtilis such as pPL608 and pKTH50 and expression vectors derived from Escherichia coli such as pGEX, pGEMEX and pMALp2.

Expression vectors of polypeptides for use in the present invention may be produced by linking DNA encoding the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide downstream to the promoter. As promoters/enhancers, promoters/enhancers derived from a mammal such as the EF1-α promoter/enhancer and γ-actin promoter/enhancer, promoters/enhancers derived from an insect such as polyhedrin virus promoter/enhancer, promoters/enhancers derived from a plant such as tabacco mosaic virus promoter/enhancer, promoters/enhancers derived from a plant such as SV40 promoter/enhancer and human CMV promoter/enhancer, promoters/enhancers derived from yeast such as alcohol dehydrogenase promoter/enhancer, promoters/enhancers derived from Escherichia coli such as Lac promoter/enhancer, Trp promoter/enhancer and Tac Promoter/enhancer.

For the expression of polypeptide for use in the present invention, a signal sequence suitable for the host to be used in the expression may be added. As the signal sequence, there may be mentioned a signal sequence for secretary proteins. As a signal sequence for secretary proteins, there may be mentioned a signal sequence for secretary proteins derived from a mammal such as a signal sequence for immunoglobulins. As a signal sequence for secretary proteins, there may be mentioned a signal sequence for secretary proteins derived from E. coli such as periplasm secretary signal sequence such as OmpA and the like.

An expression vector produced as mentioned above can be introduced into a host by a known method. Methods for introduction into the host includes, for example, electropolation, the calcium phosphate method, and the liposome method.

Polypeptides for use in the present invention can be obtained as recombinant polypeptides produced using gene recombinant technology as described above. For example, recombinant polypeptides may be produced by cloning the base sequence of a gene described herein from a cell, tissue, or an organ that expresses the polypeptide and integrating the gene into a suitable vector, which is introduced into a host to allow the host to produce said polypeptide. The recombinant polypeptides can be used in the present invention.

Specifically, mRNA encoding the gene can be isolated from the cell, tissue, or organ that expresses polypeptides to be used in the present invention. The isolation of mRNA is conducted by preparing total RNA using a known method such as the guanidine ultracentrifugation method (Chirgwin, J. M. et al., Biochemistry (1979) 18, 5294-5299), the AGPC method (Chomzynski, P. and Sacci, N., Anal. Biochem. (1987) 162, 156-159), and then purifying mRNA from the total RNA using the mRNA Purification Kit (Pharmacia) and the like. Alternatively, mRNA can be prepared directly using the QuickPrep mRNA Purification kit (Pharmacia).

The mRNA obtained is used to synthesize the cDNA of the gene using a reverse transcriptase. The synthesis of cDNA can be effected using the AMV Reverse Transcriptase First-strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Seikagaku Kogyo), and the like. Alternatively, for the synthesis and amplification of cDNA, the Marathon cDNA Amplification kit (manufactured by CLONTECH) and the 5′-RACE method (Frohman, M. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1988) 85, 8998-9002; Belyavsky, A. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. (1989) 17, 2919-2932) that employs the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be used.

A DNA fragment of interest may be prepared from the PCR product thus obtained and ligated to a vector DNA. Furthermore, a recombinant vector is constructed from this and is then introduced into E. coli for selection of colonies to prepare the desired recombinant vector. The nucleotide sequence of the desired DNA may be confirmed by a known method such as the dideoxy nucleotide chain termination method. Once the desired DNA has been obtained, it may be integrated into an expression vector.

More specifically, the DNA constructed as described above may be expressed to obtain polypeptides. When mammalian cells are used, expression may be accomplished using a vector containing a commonly used useful promoter/enhancer, the gene to be expressed, and DNA in which the poly A signal has been operably linked at 3′ downstream thereof or a vector containing said DNA. Examples of the promoter/enhancer include the human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter/enhancer.

Additionally, as the promoter/enhancer which can be used for expression thereof, there are viral, promoters/enhancers such as retrovirus, polyoma virus, adenovirus, and simian virus 40 (SV40), and promoters/enhancers derived from mammalian cells such as human elongation factor 1α (HEF1α).

For example, expression may be readily accomplished by the method of Mulligan et al. (Nature (1979) 277, 108) when the SV40 promoter/enhancer is used, or by the method of Mizushima et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. (1990) 18, 5322) when-the HEF1α promoter/enhancer is used.

In the case of E. coli, expression may be conducted by operably linking a commonly used useful promoter, a signal sequence for polypeptide secretion, and the gene to be expressed, followed by expression thereof. As the promoter, for example, there can be mentioned the lacz promoter and the araB promoter. The method of Ward et al. (Nature (1098) 341, 544-546; FASEB J. (1992) 6, 2422-2427) may be used when the lacz promoter is used, and the method of Better et al. (Science (1988) 240, 1041-1043) may be used when the araB promoter is used.

As a signal sequence for polypeptide secretion, when produced in the periplasm of E. coli, the pelB signal sequence (Lei, S. P. et al., J. Bacteriol. (1987) 169, 4379) can be used.

As a origin of replication, there can be used those derived from SV40, polyoma virus, adenovirus, bovine papilloma virus (BPV) and the like. Furthermore, for the amplification of gene copy number in the host cell system, expression vectors can include as selectable markers the aminoglycoside transferase (APH) gene, the thymidine kinase (TK) gene, E. coli xanthine guaninephosphoribosyl transferase (Ecogpt) gene, the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene and the like.

For the production of polypeptides for use in the present invention, any production system can be used. The production system of polypeptide preparation comprises the in vitro or the in vivo production system. As the in vitro production system, there can be mentioned a production system which employs eukaryotic cells and the production system which employs prokaryotic cells.

When the eukaryotic cells are used, there are the production systems which employ the animal cells, the plant cells, and the fungal cells. Known animal cells include (1) mammalian cells such. as CHO cells (J. Exp. Med. (1995) 108, 945), COS cells, myeloma cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, HeLa cells, and Vero cells, (2) amphibian cells such as Xenopus oocytes (Valle, et al., Nature (1981) 291, 358-340), or (3) insect cells such as sf9, sf21, and Tn5. As the CHO cells, dhfr-CHO (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1968) 77, 4216-4220), a CHO cell that is deficient in the DHFR gene, and CHO K-1 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1968) 60, 1275) can be preferably used.

Known plant cells include, for example, those derived from Nicotiana tabacum, which is subjected to callus culture. Known fungal cells include yeasts such as the genus Saccharomyces, more specifically Saccharomyces cereviceae, or filamentous fungi such as the genus Aspergillus, more specifically Aspergillus niger.

When the prokaryotic cells are used, there are the production systems which employ bacterial cells. Known bacterial cells include Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Bacillus subtilis.

By transforming these cells with the desired DNA and culturing the transformed cells in vitro, polypeptides can be obtained. Culturing is conducted in the known methods. For example, as the culture liquid, DMEM, MEM, RPMI1640, and IMDM can be used, and serum supplements such as fetal calf serum (FCS) may be used in combination, or serum-free medium can be used. pH during the culture is preferably about 6 to 8. Culture is usually carried out at 30 to 40° C. for about 15 to 200 hours with, as desired, medium changes, aeration, and agitation.

As in vivo production systems, there can be mentioned those which employ animals and those which employ plants. DNA of interest is introduced into these animals or plants, and the polypeptides are produced in such animals or plants, and recovered.

When animals are used, there are the production systems which employ mammals and insects.

As mammals, goat, pigs, sheep, mice, and cattle can be used (Vicki Glaser, SPECTRUM Biotechnology Applications, 1993). When mammals are used, transgenic animals can be used.

For example, a DNA of interest is inserted into the middle of the gene encoding protein which is inherently produced in the milk such as goat β casein to prepare fusion genes. DNA fragments containing the fusion gene into which the DNA has been inserted are injected into a goat embryo, and the embryo is introduced into a female goat. The polypeptide is obtained from the milk produced by the transgenic goat born to the goat who received the embryo or offsprings thereof. In order to increase the amount of milk containing the polypeptide produced by the transgenic goat, hormones may be given to the transgenic goat as appropriate. (Ebert, K. M. et al., Bio/Technology (1994) 12, 699-702).

As an insect, silkworms may be used. When silkworms are used, baculovirus into which the DNA of interest has been inserted is infected to the silkworm, and the desired polypeptide can be obtained from the body fluid of the silkworm (Susumu, M. et al., Nature (1985) 315, 592-594).

Moreover, when plants are used, tabacco, for example, can be used. When tabacco is used, the DNA of interest is inserted into an expression vector for plants, for example pMON 530, and then the vector is introduced into a bacterium such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The bacterium is then infected to tabacco such as Nicotiana tabacum to obtain the desired polypeptide from the leaves of the tabacco (Julian, K. -C. Ma et al., Eur. J. Immunol. (1994) 24, 131-138).

As methods of introducing an expression vector into a host, there can be used a known method such as the calcium phosphate method (Virolgoy (1973) 52, 456-467), the electropolation method (EMBO J. (1982) 1, 841-845), and the like. Considering the frequency of use of the host's codon for use in the present invention, a sequence having a better efficiency of expression can be designed (Grantham, R. et al., Nucleic Acids Research (1981) 9, r43-r74).

Gene is introduced as described above into these animals or plants, and polypeptides are produced in the body of the animals or the plants and recovered. Polypeptides expressed and produced as described above can be separated from the inside or outside of the host cell and then may be purified to homogeneity. Separation and purification of the antibody for use in the present invention may be accomplished by, but not limited to, the separation and the purification methods conventionally used for protein purification.

Polypeptides can be separated and purified by selecting and combining, as appropriate, methods including, but not limited to, chromatography columns such as affinity chromatography, filtration, ultrafiltration, salting-out, dialysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and the like (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988).

As chromatography, there may be mentioned, for example, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel-filtration, reverse phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography, and the like (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: A Laboratory Course Manual. Ed Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1986). These chromatographies can be carried out using a liquid chromatography such as HPLC and FPLC.

Polypeptides can be determined using a known method. For example, measurement of absorbance or the Bradford method can be used.

The present invention provides a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide and a test sample, and then detecting or determining the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide; or

a method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a TAK1 polypeptide and a TAB1 polypeptide, which method comprises contacting the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and a test sample and then detecting or determining the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide.

The screening system for use in the present invention may be conducted as an in vitro assay system.

The in vitro assay system may be conducted in a non-cellular system. Specifically, one of the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide may be previously bound to a support, to which polypeptide are then added the other polypeptide and the test sample, incubated and then washed followed by detection or determination of binding of the polypeptide to the other polypeptide bound to the support. Alternatively, the test sample may be added under a homogeneous condition without binding any of the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide to the support, incubated, and then immunoprecipitated using antibody to either of the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide followed by detection or determination of the amount of the conjugate.

The TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide may be a polypeptide produced by cells that inherently express them, cells into which DNA encoding a polypeptide for use in the present invention has been introduced, or animals or plants into which DNA encoding a polypeptide for use in the present invention has been introduced, which may be used in a purified or crude-purified form.

One of the purified or semi-purified TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide is allowed to bind to the support. The polypeptide may be immobilized onto the support by a standard method in biding the polypeptides to a support. As supports to which polypeptides are bound, there may be mentioned, for example, insoluble polysaccharides such as agarose, dextran, cellulose, synthetic resin such as polystyrene, polyacrylamide and silicone. More specifically, commercially available beads or plates that are produced using the above as a raw material are used. In the case of beads, there may be used columns that are packed with them. In the case of plates, there may be mentioned multiwell plates (96-well multiwell plates, etc.) or biosensor chips.

Binding between polypeptides and supports may be effected using conventionally known methods such as chemical bonding, and physical adsorption. Alternatively, it is be possible to bind an antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide to a support in advance so that the antibody and the polypeptide become joined. Furthermore, avidin/biotin can also be bound.

The binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide may be usually effected in buffer solutions. As buffer solutions, for example, phosphate buffers, Tris buffers and the like may be used. Incubation conditions may be any conditions that are conventionally used, including the incubation at 4° C. to room temperature for 1 hour to 24 hours. Washing after the incubation may be effected in any solution that does not prevent binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide including, for example, a buffer solution containing a surfactant. As surfactants, 0.05% Tween 20 may be used.

Test specimens to be screened according to the present invention include, for example, peptides, polypeptides, synthetic compounds, microbial fermentation products, marine organism extracts, plant extracts, prokaryotic cell extracts, eukaryotic unicellular extracts, or animal cell extracts, or libraries thereof. Substances included in these test specimens are ones that are expected to act in an inhibitory manner on binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide. These inhibiting substances inhibit the binding of the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and the binding of the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide.

In order to select substances contained in these test specimens that inhibit the binding of the TAK1 polypeptide to the TAB1 polypeptide and the binding of the TAB1 polypeptide to the TAK1 polypeptide, they are incubated and washed under an appropriated condition to separate the specific binding from the non-specific binding. Then the status of binding of the polypeptides for use in the present invention can be evaluated.

In the screening method of the present invention, the control group can be set up together with the group in which the test specimens are contacted to the polypeptides. As the control group, the negative control group having no test specimens, the positive control group having a substance that clearly inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide, or both of the groups can be set up.

When the bound polypeptide is detected or determined in accordance with the present invention, the bound polypeptide can only be detected, or the bound polypeptide may be determined in a quantitative manner. In these cases, the result obtained for the negative control group having no test specimens, the result obtained for the group having a test specimen, and/or the result obtained for the positive control group having a substance that clearly inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide can be compared to detect a substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide of interest.

Alternatively, these results may be obtained in numerical values, which values may be compared to determine quantitatively the activity of the substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide of interest. When quantitative determinations are made, the numerical value obtained with the negative control group having no test specimens and those obtained with the group in which a test specimen was applied may be compared to detect the substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide of interest. The presence of a substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide of interest in the test specimen would decrease the bound polypeptide, thereby enabling to determine the specimen that contains the binding-inhibiting substance.

When quantitative determinations are also made, quantitation may be made based on a standard curve generated from the numerical values obtained with the positive control group containing known amounts of the substance that clearly inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide. When the amount of the bound polypeptide is large, the activity of the substance contained in the test specimen that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide is expected to be low, whereas when the amount of the bound polypeptide is small, the activity of the substance contained in the test specimen that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide is expected to be high.

In a screening method of a substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide, biosensors may be used that utilize a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon as a means to detect or determine the bound polypeptide. Biosensors that utilize a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon permit a real time observation of protein—protein interaction as a surface plasmon resonance signal using and without labeling a trace amount of protein (for example BIAcore; manufactured by Pharmacia). Thus, by using biosensors such as BIAcore, binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide can be evaluated.

Accordingly, it is intended to contact the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide to a sensor chip on which is immobilized the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide and then to detect as resonance signals the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide that are bound to the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide.

Specifically it may be carried out as follows. First a sensor chip CM5 (Biosensor) is activated and then the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide is immobilized thereon. Thus, after the sensor chip is activated with an aqueous solution of EDC/NHS (200 mM EDC (N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbonate, hydrochloride), 50 mM NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide)), it is washed with an HBS buffer (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 3.4 mM EDTA, 0.05% Tween 20).

Then an appropriate amount of TAK1 polypeptide or TAB1 polypeptide dissolved in the HBS buffer is contacted to the sensor chip and immobilized thereon. After washing the sensor chip with the HBS buffer, the active groups remaining on the sensor chip are blocked with an ethanolamine solution (1M ethanolamine hydrochloride, pH 8.5). The sensor chip is washed again with the HBS buffer for use in the binding evaluation.

Then an appropriate amount of TAB1 polypeptide or TAK1 polypeptide dissolved in the HBS buffer is injected, whereupon the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide immobilized on the sensor chip is observed as an increment in the value of resonance signal.

In the above binding-evaluation system, furthermore,. a test specimen is injected after the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide. Alternatively, control groups may be set up together with the injection of the test specimen. As the control groups, the negative control group having no test specimens, the positive control group having a substance that clearly inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide, or both of the groups, can be set up.

The bound polypeptide is quantitatively determined as a change in the value of resonance signal. In these cases, the result obtained for the negative control group having no test specimens, the result obtained for the group having a test specimen, and/or the result obtained for the positive control group having a substance that clearly inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide can be compared to detect and determine a substance that inhibits binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide of interest.

As a means of detecting or determining the bound polypeptide in the method of screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide of the present invention, either of the polypeptides is labeled and the label of the bound polypeptide can be detected or determined.

For example, in the above screening method, one polypeptide that is to be contacted to the other polypeptide together with the test specimen is labeled beforehand and incubated with the test specimen, washed, and then the bound polypeptide is detected or determined by means of the label. Thus, preferably to one polypeptide that has been bound to a support are contacted the test specimen and the other labeled polypeptide. After incubating and washing, the label of the bound polypeptide can be detected or determined.

The TAK1 polypeptide or the TAB1 polypeptide can be labeled by commonly known methods. As labels, there may be used, for example, radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescent substances, biotin/avidin, and the like. These labels may be commercially available ones. As radioisotopes, there may be mentioned, for example, ³²P, ³³P, ¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ³H, ¹⁴C, and ³⁵S. As enzymes, there may be mentioned, for example, alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and the like. As fluorescent substances, there may be mentioned, for example, fluorescein isocyanate (FITC) and rhodamine. These are commercially available and may be labeled by known methods.

Specifically, the following procedure may be used. Thus, a solution containing one polypeptide is added to a plate, which is then allowed to stand overnight. After washing the plate, it is blocked with, for example, BSA to prevent non-specific binding of polypeptides. The plate is washed again, and a test specimen and the other polypeptide that has been labeled are added to the plate. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and/or a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated. After incubation, the washed and bound polypeptide is detected or determined. For the detection or determination, in the case of a radioisotope, liquid scintillation is used.

In the case of an enzyme, a substrate therefor is added and the enzymatic changes, for example color development of the substrate, are detected or determined. Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

As a means for detecting or determining the bound polypeptide in the method of screening substances that inhibiting between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide of the present invention, a primary antibody that specifically recognizes one polypeptide can be used.

For example, in the above screening method, to one polypeptide are contacted the other polypeptide together with the test specimen, incubated with the test specimen, washed, and then the bound polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide. Thus, preferably to one polypeptide that has been bound to a support are contacted the test specimen and the other polypeptide. After incubating and washing, the bound polypeptide may be detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide. Preferably, the primary antibody has been labeled with a label. The method of producing the antibody is described below.

The antibody can be labeled by commonly known methods. As labels, there may be used, for example, radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescent substances, and the like. These labels may be commercially available ones. As radioisotopes, there may be mentioned, for example, ³²P, ³³P, ¹³¹I, ^(125 I,) ³H, ¹⁴C, and ³⁵S. As enzymes, there may be mentioned, for example, alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and the like. As fluorescent substances, there may be mentioned, for example, fluorescein isocyanate (FITC) and rhodamine. These are commercially available and may be labeled in known methods.

Specifically, the following procedure may be used. Thus, a solution containing one polypeptide is added to a plate, which is then allowed to stand overnight. After washing the plate, it is blocked with, for example, BSA to prevent non-specific binding of polypeptides. The plate is washed again, and a test specimen and the other polypeptide are added to the plate. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and/or a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated.

After incubation, the plate is washed and an antibody, against the polypeptide that was added together with the test specimen, is added. After an appropriate incubation, the plate is washed and the polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide. For the detection or determination, in the case of a radioisotope, liquid scintillation is used. In the case of an enzyme, a substrate therefor is added and the enzymatic changes, for example color development of the substrate, are detected or determined by means of a photometer. In the case of a fluorescent substance, detection and determination may be effected by means of a fluorophotometer. Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

As a means of detecting or determining the bound polypeptide in the method of screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide of the present invention, a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide can be used.

For example, in the above screening method, to one polypeptide are contacted another polypeptide together with a test specimen, incubated with the test specimen, washed, and then the bound polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide.

Thus, preferably to one polypeptide that has been bound to a support are contacted the test specimen and another polypeptide. After incubating and washing, the bound polypeptide may be detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide. Preferably, the primary antibody has been labeled with a label. The method of producing the antibody is described below.

The antibody can be labeled by commonly known methods.

Specifically, the following procedure may be used. Thus, a solution containing one polypeptide is added to a plate, which is then allowed to stand overnight. After washing the plate, it is blocked with, for example, BSA to prevent non-specific binding of polypeptides. The plate is washed again, and a test specimen and a polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide are added to the plate. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and/or a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated.

After incubation, the plate is washed and an antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide that was added together with the test specimen is added. After an appropriate incubation, the plate is washed and the polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other polypeptide fused to the polypeptide. For the detection or determination, in the case of a radioisotope, liquid scintillation is used. In the case of an enzyme, a substrate therefor is added and the enzymatic changes, for example color development of the substrate, are detected or determined by means of a photometer. In the case of a fluorescent substance, detection and determination may be effected by means of a fluorophotometer. Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

As a means of detecting or determining the bound polypeptide in the method of screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide of the present invention, a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody can be used.

For example, in the above screening method, to one polypeptide are contacted another polypeptide together with a test specimen, incubated with the test specimen, washed, and then the bound polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody.

Thus, preferably to one polypeptide that has been bound to a support are contacted a test specimen and another polypeptide. After incubating and washing, the bound polypeptide may be detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody. Preferably, the secondary antibody has been labeled with a label.

The method of producing the antibody is described below.

The antibody can be labeled by commonly known methods.

Specifically, the following procedure may be used. Thus, a solution containing one polypeptide is added to a plate, which is then allowed to stand overnight. After washing the plate, it is blocked with, for example, BSA to prevent non-specific binding of polypeptides. The plate is washed again, and a test specimen and the polypeptide are added to the plate. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and/or a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated.

After incubation, the plate is washed and a primary antibody against another peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide that was added together with the test specimen is added. After an appropriate incubation, the plate is washed and the polypeptide is detected or determined by means of the secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody that specifically recognizes the polypeptide. For the detection or determination, in the case of a radioisotope, liquid scintillation is used. In the case of an enzyme, a substrate therefor is added and the enzymatic changes, for example color development of the substrate, are detected or determined by means of a photometer. In the case of a fluorescent substance, detection and determination may be effected by means of a fluorophotometer. Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

As a means of detecting or determining the bound polypeptide in the method of screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide of the present invention, a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the TAB1 polypeptide or the TAK1 polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody can be used.

For example, in the above screening method, to one polypeptide are contacted another polypeptide together with a test specimen, incubated with the test specimen, washed, and then the bound polypeptide is detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody. Thus, preferably, to one polypeptide that has been bound to a support are contacted the test specimen and the other polypeptide. After incubating and washing, the bound polypeptide may be detected or determined by means of a primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody. Preferably, the secondary antibody has been labeled with a label. The method of producing the antibody is described below.

The antibody can be labeled by commonly known methods.

Specifically, the following procedure may be used. Thus, a solution containing one polypeptide is added to a plate, which is then allowed to stand overnight. After washing the plate, it is blocked with, for example, BSA to prevent non-specific binding of polypeptides. The plate is washed again, and a test specimen and another polypeptide fused to the other peptide or polypeptide are added to the plate. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and/or a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated.

After incubation, the plate is washed and a primary antibody against the other peptide or polypeptide fused to the polypeptide that was added together with the test specimen is added. After an appropriate incubation, the plate is washed and a secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody is added. After an appropriate incubation, the plate is washed and the polypeptide is detected or determined by means of the secondary antibody that specifically recognizes the primary antibody that specifically recognizes the other polypeptide fused to the polypeptide. For the detection or determination, in the case of a radioisotope, liquid scintillation is used. In the case of an enzyme, a substrate therefor is added and the enzymatic changes, for example color development of the substrate, are detected or determined by means of a photometer. In the case of a fluorescent substance, detection and determination may be effected by means of a fluorophotometer. Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

More specifically, the present invention may be conducted by, most specifically, an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Thus, the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, for example 6×His, is diluted in an immobilization buffer (0.1 M NaHCO₃, 0.02% NaN₃, pH 9.6). A suitable amount of an aqueous solution that was diluted is added to each well of a 96-well immunoplate (manufactured by Nunc), which is then incubated overnight at 4° C.

After each well is washed three times with the wash buffer (prepared to 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), 200 μl of a 5% solution of BSA (manufactured by SIGMA) dissolved in PBS is added to block overnight at 4° C.

Then, each well is washed three times with the wash buffer, and appropriate amounts of the TAB1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, for example FALG, and a test specimen are added thereto and incubated at room temperature for one hour. Each well is washed three times with the wash buffer, and 100 μl of mouse anti-FLAG M2 antibody (manufactured by IBI) dissolved to 3 mg/ml in a dilution buffer is added to each well and incubated at room temperature for one hour.

Each well is washed three times with a wash buffer, and 100 μl of alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (manufactured by ZYMED) diluted 1000-fold in the dilution buffer is added to each well and incubated at room temperature for one hour. Each well is washed five times with the wash buffer, and 100 μl of the color development solution (substrate buffer; p-nitrophenyl phosphate dissolved to 1 mg/ml in 50 mM NaHCO₃, 10 mM MgCl₂, pH 9.8, manufactured by Sigma) is added to each well and incubated at room temperature. Subsequently, absorbance at 405 nm is measured using a microplate reader (Model 3550, manufactured by BIO-RAD). Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the negative control group and/or positive control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

The screening method of the present invention may also be used for the High Throughput Screening (HTS). Specifically, steps up to the blocking may be conducted manually, and the subsequent reactions can be automated by robotization to realize High Throughput Screening.

Thus, the TAK1 polypeptide fused to another peptide or polypeptide, for example 6×His, is diluted in the immobilization buffer (0.1 M NaHCO₃, 0.02% NaN₃, pH 9.6). A suitable amount of the aqueous solution that was diluted to each well of a 96-well immunoplate (manufactured by Nunc) is added and then incubated overnight at 4° C.

After each well is washed three times with the wash buffer (prepared to 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), 200 μl of a 5% solution of BSA (manufactured by SIGMA) dissolved in PBS is added to block overnight at 4° C.

Subsequently, an immunoplate after blocking is mounted to, for example, the Biomek 2000 HTS system (manufactured by Beckman) and the control program of the system is executed. At this time the delivery of the solution to each well of the immunoplate and the removal thereof can be carried out using the Biomek 2000 HTS system (manufactured by Beckman) and the Multipipette 96-well simultaneous dispenser (manufactured by Sagian) as a dispensing instrument. Washing of each well of the immunoplate can also be carried out using the EL404 microplate washer (Bio Tek). Measurement of absorbance can be made using the SPECTRAmax250 plate reader (manufactured by Molecular Devices).

The program is set so as to perform the following steps. Thus, each well is washed three times with the wash buffer, appropriate amounts of the test specimen and the other peptide or polypeptide diluted in the dilution buffer (1% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20, PBS) such as the TAB polypeptide fused to MBP (maltose-binding protein) are added. At the same time, a group (the negative control) containing no test specimens and a group (the positive control) to which a known concentration of a binding-inhibiting substance has been added are set up and incubated at room temperature for one hour.

Each well is washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of rabbit anti-MBP antiserum (manufactured by New England Biolabs) is added to each well, and incubated at room temperature for one hour. Each well is washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (manufactured by TAGO) diluted 5000-fold in the dilution buffer is added to each well, and incubated at room temperature for one hour.

Each well is then washed five times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of the color development solution (substrate buffer; p-nitrophenyl phosphate dissolved to 1 mg/ml in 50 mM NaHCO₃, 10 mM MgCl₂, pH 9,8, manufactured by Sigma) is added to each well, and incubated at room temperature. Subsequently, absorbance at 405 nm is measured using a microplate reader, the Biomek plate reader (manufactured by Beckman/Molecular Devices). Comparison of these results with the numerical value obtained for the control group permits the identification of the test specimen containing the inhibiting substance.

Antibodies for use in the present invention may be those that are commercially available or that are contained in commercially available kits, or they can be obtained as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies using known methods.

Monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by using the desired sensitizing antigen, which is immunized in a conventional method for immunization, by fusing the immune cells thus obtained with known parent cells, and screening monoclonal antibody-producing cells using a known screening method.

Specifically, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies may be generated as follows.

Though the sensitizing antigen for generation of antibodies is not limited by the animal species from which the antibodies are obtained, it is preferably derived from a mammal from which peptides or polypeptides actually used in the present invention are derived, such as humans, mice, or rats. Among them, sensitizing antigens derived from humans are preferred. When, for example, a human TAB1 polypeptide or human TAK1 polypeptide is used as the sensitizing antigen, the nucleotide sequence and the amino acid sequence thereof can be obtained using the gene sequence disclosed in the present invention. Furthermore, when other peptides or polypeptides that are fused with the human TAB1 polypeptide or human TAK1 polypeptide are used as the sensitizing antigen, the peptides and the polypeptides can be chemically synthesized or can be obtained using genetic engineering technology.

Peptides or polypeptides that are used as the sensitizing antigen may be full-length or fragments thereof. As fragments, for example, C-terminal fragments or N-terminal fragments may be mentioned.

Mammals to be immunized with the sensitizing antigen are not specifically limited, and they are preferably selected in consideration of their compatibility with the parent cell for use in cell fusion. They generally include rodents, lagomorphs, and primates.

Rodents include, for example, mice, rats, hamsters, and the like. Lagomorphs include, for example, rabbits. Primates include, for example, monkeys. As monkeys, catarrhines (Old-World monkeys) such as cynomolgi (crab-eating macaque), rhesus monkeys, sacred baboons, chimpanzees etc. are used.

Immunization of animals with a sensitizing antigen is carried out using a known method. A general method, for example, involves the intraperitoneal or subcutaneous administration of a sensitizing antigen to the mammal. Specifically, a sensitizing antigen which has been diluted and suspended in an appropriate amount of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or physiological saline etc. is mixed, as desired, with an appropriate amount of a conventional adjuvant, for example Freund's complete adjuvant. After being emulsified, it is preferably administered to the mammal for several times every 4 to 21 days. Alternatively a suitable carrier may be used at the time of immunization of the sensitizing antigen. After such immunization, the increase in the desired antibody levels in the serum is confirmed by a conventional method.

In order to obtain polyclonal antibodies, the blood of the mammal that was sensitized with the antigen is removed after the increase in the desired antibody levels in the serum has been confirmed. Serum is separated from the blood. As polyclonal antibodies, serum containing the polyclonal antibodies may be used, or, as desired, the fraction containing the polyclonal antibodies may be isolated from the serum.

In order to obtain monoclonal antibodies, immune cells of the mammal that was sensitized with the antigen are removed and are subjected to cell fusion after the increase in the desired antibody levels in the serum has been confirmed. At this time preferred immune cells that are subjected to cell fusion include, in particular, the spleen cells.

The mammalian myeloma cells as other parent cells which are subjected to cell fusion with the above-mentioned immune cells preferably include various known cell lines such as P3 (P3X63Ag8.653) (Kearney, J. F. et al., J. Immunol. (1979) 123: 1548-1550), P3X63Ag8.U1 (Yelton, D. E., et al., Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology (1978) 81: 1-7), NS-1 (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Eur. J. Immunol. (1976) 6: 511-519), MPC-11 (Margulies, D. H. et al., Cell (1976) 8: 405-415), SP2/0 (Shulman, M. et al., Nature (1978) 276: 269-270), FO (de St. Groth, S. F. and Scheidegger, D., J. Immunol. Methods (1980) 35: 1-21), S194 (Trowbridge, I. S., J. Exp. Med. (1978) 148: 313-323), R210 (Galfre, G. et al., Nature (1979) 277: 131-133) and the like.

Cell fusion between the above immune cells and the myeloma cells may be essentially conducted in accordance with a known method such as is described in Milstein et al. (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Methods Enzymol. (1981) 73: 3-46) and the like.

More specifically, the above cell fusion is carried out in the conventional nutrient broth in the presence of, for example, a cell fusion accelerator. As the cell fusion accelerator, for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG), Sendai virus (HVJ) and the like may be used, and, in addition, an adjuvant such as dimethyl sulfoxide etc. may be added as desired to enhance efficiency of the fusion.

The preferred ratio of the immune cells and the myeloma cells to be used is, for example, 1 to 10 times more immune cells than the myeloma cells. Examples of culture media to be used for the above cell fusion include RPMI1640 medium and MEM culture medium suitable for the growth of the above myeloma cell lines, and the conventional culture medium used for this type of cell culture, and besides a serum supplement such as fetal calf serum (FCS) may be added.

In cell fusion, predetermined amounts of the above immune cells and the myeloma cells are mixed well in the above culture liquid, to which a PEG solution previously heated to about 37° C., for example a PEG solution with a mean molecular weight of about 1000 to 6000, is added at a concentration of 30 to 60% (w/v), and mixed to obtain the desired fusion cells (hybridomas). Then by repeating the sequential addition of a suitable culture liquid and centrifugation to remove the supernatant, cell fusion agents etc. which are undesirable for the growth of the hybridoma can be removed.

Said hybridoma is selected by culturing in a conventional selection medium, for example, the HAT culture medium (a culture liquid containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine). Culturing in said HAT culture medium is continued generally for a period of time sufficient to effect killing of the cells other than the desired hybridoma (non-fusion cells), generally several days to several weeks. Then, the conventional limiting dilution method is conducted in which the hybridomas that produce the desired antibody are screened and cloned.

In addition to obtaining the above hybridoma by immunizing an animal other than the human with an antigen, it is also possible to sensitize human lymphocytes infected with EB virus with a peptide or polypeptide, cells expressing them, or their lysates in vitro, and to allow the resulting sensitized lymphocytes to be fused with a human-derived myeloma cell having a permanent division potential, for example U266, and thereby to obtain a hybridoma producing the desired human antibody having the activity of binding the peptide or the polypeptide (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63(1988)-17688).

Furthermore, a transgenic animal having a repertoire of human antibody genes is immunized with the antigen peptide or polypeptide, cells expressing them or lysates thereof to obtain the antibody-producing cells, which are used to obtain human antibody against the peptide or polypeptide for use in the present invention using hybrodomas fused to myeloma cells (see International Patent Application WO 92-03918, WO 93-2227, WO 94-02602, WO 94-25585, WO 96-33735 and WO 96-34096).

The monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas thus constructed can be subcultured in the conventional culture liquid, or can be-stored for a prolonged period of time in liquid nitrogen.

In order to obtain monoclonal antibodies from said hybridoma, there may be employed a method in which said hybridoma is cultured in the conventional method and the antibodies are obtained as the culture supernatant, or a method in which the hybridoma is administered to and grown in a mammal compatible with said hybridoma and the antibodies are obtained as the ascites. The former method is suitable for obtaining high-purity antibodies, whereas the latter is suitable for a large scale production of antibodies.

In addition to using a hybridoma to produce antibody, immune cells that produce the desired antibody, for example the sensitized lymphocytes that have been immortalized with an oncogene, may be used to obtain the antibody.

A monoclonal antibody thus produced can also be obtained as a recombinant antibody by recombinant gene technology. For example, an antibody gene may be cloned from the hybridoma or an immune cell such as sensitized lymphocytes that produce antibodies, and is integrated into a suitable vector which is then introduced into a host to produce said antibody. Recombinant antibodies may also be used in the present invention (see, for example, Borrebaeck, C. A. K., and Larrick, J. W., THERAPEUTIC MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, published in the United Kingdom by MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS LTD. 1990).

Antibodies for use in the present invention may be antibody fragments or modified versions thereof as long as they have the desired binding activity. For example, as fragments of antibody, there may be mentioned Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv or single-chain Fv (scFv) in which Fv or Fv's of the H chain and the L chain were ligated via a suitable linker. Specifically antibodies are treated with an enzyme such as papain or pepsin, to produce antibody fragments, or genes encoding these antibody fragments are constructed and then introduced into an expression vector, which is expressed in a suitable host cell (see, for example, Co, M. S. et al., J. Immunol. (1994) 152, 2968-2976; Better, M. and Horwitz, A. H., Methods in Enzymology (1989) 178, 476-496; Plucktrun, A. and Skerra, A., Methods in Enzymol. (1989) 178, 497-515; Lamoyi, E., Methods in Enzymol. (1986) 121, 652-663; Rousseaux, J. et al., Methods in Enzymol. (1986) 121, 663-669; Bird, R. E. and Walker, B. W., Trends Biotechnol. (1991) 9, 132-137).

Antibodies produced and expressed as described above can be separated from the inside or outside of the host cell and then may be purified to homogeneity. Separation and purification of the antibody for use in the present invention may be accomplished by, but is not limited to, the separation and the purification methods conventionally used for proteins.

These methods include chromatography columns such as affinity chromatography, filtration, ultrafiltration, salting-out, dialysis, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and the like, from which methods can be selected and combined as appropriate for separation and purification of antibodies (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988).

As columns for use in affinity chromatography, there can be mentioned Protein A column and Protein G column. Examples of the carriers used in the Protein A column are Hyper D, POROS, Sepharose F. F. (Pharmacia) and the like.

As chromatography other than the above-mentioned affinity chromatography, there can be mentioned, for example, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel-filtration, reverse phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography, and the like (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: A Laboratory Course Manual, E d Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1986). These chromatographies can be carried-out using a liquid chromatography such as HPLC and FPLC.

The concentration measurement and activity confirmation of the antibody obtained as above can be made by known methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), or fluorescent antibody assay.

Substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide that were obtained using the screening method of the present invention can be obtained by screening the test compounds such as peptides, proteins, non-peptide compounds, synthetic compounds, microbial fermentation products, marine organism extracts, plant extracts, cell extracts, or animal cell extracts by screening methods. These test compounds may be novel compounds, or existing compounds.

These binding-inhibiting substances are compounds that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide. Compounds that were changed by addition, deletion, or substitution of part of the structure of substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide obtained by the screening method of the present invention are included in the substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide obtained by the screening method of the present invention.

Substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide obtained by the screening method of the present invention may be substances that activate signal transduction of TGF-β or substances that suppress signal transduction of TGF-β. TGF-β is known to have the effect of enhancing extracellular matrix protein production, inhibiting cellular growth, causing monocyte migration, inducing biologically active substances, suppressing immunity, depositing amyloid β protein, and the like. Both of the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide are responsible for signal transduction of TGF-β each by binding thereto. Thus, substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide obtained by the screening method of the present invention can be obtained as a substance that activates or suppresses signal transduction of TGF-β.

When substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide obtained by the screening method of the present invention are used as medicaments for humans and mammals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, baboons, and chimpanzees, they may be used in the conventional method.

For example, they may be used, as desired, orally as capsules and microcapsules, or parenterally in the form of sterile solutions with water or other pharmaceutically acceptable liquids or suspensions. For example, substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide are produced in unit dosage forms required for generally accepted formulations by mixing with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, vehicles, antiseptics, stabilizers, and adhesion inhibitors. The amount of active ingredients in these formulations is designed to provide an indicated suitable range of doses. As additives that may be blended for tables or capsules, for example, gelatin, HSA (human serum albumin), crystalline cellulose, alginic acid, magnesium stearate, sucrose, and lactose may be used.

As aqueous solutions for injection, there may be mentioned, for example, isotonic liquids such as physiological saline, glucose and other adjuvants such as D-sorbitol, D-mannose, D-mannitol, and sodium chloride, and they may be used in combination with suitable solubilizing agents such as alcohols, specifically ethanol, polyalchohols including, for example, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, nonionic surfactants such as polysorbate 80TM, HCO-50, benzyl benzoate, phosphate buffer, sodium acetate buffer, procaine hydrochloride, benzyl alchohol, and phenol.

The dosage of substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide for a human adult (assuming the body weight of 60 kg) is, when given orally, usually about 0.1 to 100 mg/day, preferably about 1.0 to 50 mg/day, and more preferably about 1.0 to 20 mg/day, though this may vary depending on the medical conditions.

When given parenterally, the dose per administration for a human adult (assuming the body weight of 60 kg) of usually about 0.01 to 30 mg/day, preferably about 0.1 to 20 mg/day, and more preferably about 0.1 to 10 mg/day in the case of injections is conveniently administered via intravenous injection, though this may vary depending on the subject organ, medical conditions, and the method of administration. For other animals, the amount converted in terms of the body weight of 60 kg may be administered.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be explained in more details with reference to the examples. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to them in any way.

Example 1 Construction of a Baculovirus Transfer Vector for Recombinant Human TAB1 and Recombinant Human TAK1

In order to express a full-length human TAB1 polypeptide and a full-length human TAK1 polypeptide by a baculovirus expression system, a baculovirus transfer vector was constructed. At this time, it was designed to add a peptide tag in order to facilitate purification and detection.

Thus, a FLAG tag comprising 8 amino acids (Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys; SEQ ID NO: 5) was added to the carboxy terminal of human TAB1. Also, a 6×His tag (Janknecht, R. et al., Gene (1992) 121, 321-324) comprising 6 contiguous His residues (His-His-His-His-His-His; SEQ ID NO: 6) was added to the carboxy terminal of human TAK1. Each recombinant polypeptide is expressed as a fusion polypeptide, human TAB1-FLAG or human TAK1-6×His.

In order to obtain a DNA fragment encoding human TAB1-FLAG, a PCR method was carried out with plasmid pBS-TAB1 (Shibuya, H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182) as a template using a sense primer TABFS (SEQ ID NO: 7) and an antisense primer TAB1AS (SEQ ID NO: 8) that were synthesized using a primer synthesizer.

The sense primer TABFS comprises a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide A at position 30 to nucleotide G at position 47 of the region encoding a full-length human TAB1 polypeptide contained in plasmid PBS-TAB1 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 after the recognition site of the restriction enzyme EcoRI. The antisense primer TAB1AS comprises a nucleotide sequence complementary to a series of nucleotide sequences comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding 5 amino acid sequence comprised of Gly-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 9), a nucleotide sequence encoding the FLAG tag, two stop codons, and a recognition site of the restriction enzyme XbaI, after a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide A at position 1524 to nucleotide G at position 1541 of the region encoding the human TAB1 polypeptide contained in the plasmid pBS-TAB1 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4 (FIG. 1).

The PCR method comprised a total of 25 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 55° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 2 minutes per cycle. PCR reaction products were separated and purified by a 1% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma), digested with the restriction enzymes EcoRI and XbaI, and then were inserted into the baculovirus transfer vector pBacPAK9 (manufactured by CLONTECH).

The nucleotide sequence of (SEQ ID NO: 9) the inserted DNA fragment was determined by a DNA sequencer (Model 373A, manufactured by ABI) thereby to confirm that the correct nucleotide sequence had been inserted.

The plasmid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding human TAB1-FLAG was designated as pBacTABF. The nucleotide sequence and the amino acid sequence encoding human TAB1-FLAG are shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 and 11.

In order to obtain a DNA fragment encoding human TAK1-6×His, a PCR method was carried out with plasmid phTAK1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9(1997)-163990) as a template using a sense primer TAKS (SEQ ID NO: 12) and an antisense primer TAKAS (SEQ ID NO: 13) that were synthesized using a primer synthesizer.

The sense primer TAKS comprises a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide A at position 183 to nucleotide C at position 200 of the region encoding a human TAK1 polypeptide contained in plasmid phTAK1 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 after the recognition site of the restriction enzyme EcoRI. The antisense primer TAKAS comprises a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding 5 amino acid sequence comprised of Gly-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ser, a nucleotide sequence encoding the 6×His tag, two stop codons, and a recognition site of the restriction enzyme XbaI, after a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide A at position 1902 to nucleotide A at position 1919 of the region encoding the human TAK1 polypeptide contained in plasmid phTAK1 (FIG. 1).

The PCR method comprised a total of 25 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 55° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 2 minutes per cycle. PCR reaction products were separated and purified by a 1% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma), digested with the restriction enzymes EcoRI and XbaI, and then were inserted into the baculovirus transfer vector pBacPAK9 (manufactured by CLONTECH). The nucleotide sequence of the inserted DNA fragment was determined by a DNA sequencer (Model 373A, manufactured by ABI) thereby to confirm that the correct nucleotide sequence had been inserted. The plasmid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding human TAK1-6×His was designated as pBacTAKF. The nucleotide sequence and the amino acid sequence encoding human TAK1-6×His are shown in SEQ ID NO: 14 and 15.

Example 2 Expression of Recombinant Human TAB1-FLAG and Human TAK1-6×His Polypeptides Example 2-1 Construction of a Recombinant Baculovirus

A recombinant baculovirus was constructed in accordance with the instructions by CLONTECH.

Thus, for the construction of the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG baculovirus, 0.5 μg of the transfer vector pBacTABF of the above Example 1, 5 μl of the Bsu36 I digest of baculovirus BacPAK6 DNA (manufactured by CLONTECH), and 50 μl of a 0.1 mg/ml lipofectin solution (manufactured by CLONTECH) were diluted to a total of 100 μl in distilled water. The aqueous solution was mixed with 1.5 ml of serum-free medium and was added with 1×10⁶ lined insect cells Sf9 (ATCC CRL 1711).

At 5 hours after the addition, 1.5 ml of the insect cell culture medium (containing a medium supplement for the Grace insect cells, manufactured by GIBCO BRL) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum was further added, incubated at 27° C. for 5 days, and then the supernatant was recovered. Using the culture supernatant, a plaque assay was carried out according to the instructions by the manufacturer to isolate a recombinant baculovirus that expresses recombinant TAB1-FLAG from a single plaque.

Using the transfer vector pBacTAKF described in the above Working Example 1 in a similar procedure, a recombinant baculovirus expressing the recombinant human TAK1-6×His was constructed.

Example 2-2 Expression of Each Recombinant Polypeptide Using a Recombinant Baculovirus

A 100 M.O.I. amount of a recombinant baculovirus was infected to 1×10⁹ lined insect cells Sf9, and was incubated in 1000 ml of an insect cell culture medium supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum at 27° C. for 5 days. Cells after incubation were washed three times in PBS (Dulbecco PBS, manufactured by Nissui), and were subjected to the following purification.

Example 3 Purification of Recombinant Human TAB1-FLAG and Human TAK1-6×His Polypeptide Example 3-1 Purification of the Recombinant Human TAB1-FLAG Polypeptide

(1) Preparation of a Cleared Lysate

After the cells obtained in the above 2-2 were suspended in the TMN buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, 3 mM MgCl₂, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml PMSF, 1 μg/ml leupeptin, 1 μg/ml aprotinin, pH 7.5) to a density of 4×10⁷ cells/ml, the cells were treated by an ultrasonic disrupting instrument (SONIFIER 250, manufactured by BRANSON) until 90% of the cells were disrupted. The insoluble material in the disrupted solution was precipitated by centrifuging by a centrifuge (model MRX-150, manufactured by TOMY) at 14,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant thus obtained was filtered using a 0.45 μm filter (Sterivex™-HV, manufactured by MILLIOPORE), and the filtrate was used as the cleared lysate.

(2) Purification with an Anti-FLAG M2 Affinity Gel

In order to purify the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide from the cleared lysate, affinity purification with anti-FLAG antibody was carried out as follows:

Two ml of the anti-FLAG antibody M2 affinity gel (manufactured by IBI) was equilibrated with a TBS buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4) in the bed support (Poly-Prep Chromatography Column, manufactured by BIO-RAD). The above supernatant was added to the equilibrated anti-FLAG antibody M2 affinity gel, and the human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide was bound thereto. The column was washed with 30 ml of the TBS buffer, and the bound polypeptide was eluted with 2 ml each of the elution buffer (0.1 M glycine-HCl, pH 3.5) in six portions.

After the elution, the elution buffer was replaced with PBS using the gel filtration column PD-10 (manufactured by Pharmacia), which was used as a purified product of the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide. The purity of the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide was measured by the BCA* Protein Assay Reagent (manufactured by PIERCE) using BSA as a standard.

Example 3-2 Purification of the Recombinant Human TAK1-6×His Polypeptide

(1) Preparation of the Cleared Lysate

The cells obtained in the above 2-2 were suspended in the sonication buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, 100 NaCl, 0.1 mg/ml PMSF, 1 μg/ml leupeptin, 1 μg/ml aprotinin, pH 8.0) to a density of 4×10⁷ cells/ml, and then the cells were treated by an ultrasonic disrupting instrument (SONIFIER 250, manufactured by BRANSON) until 90% of the cells were disrupted. The insoluble material in the disrupted solution was precipitated by centrifuging by a centrifuge (model MRX-150, manufactured by TOMY) at 14000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant thus obtained was filtered using a 0.45 μm filter (SterivexTM-HV, manufactured by MILLIOPORE), and the filtrate was used as the cleared lysate.

(2) Purification with TALONTM Metal Affinity Resin

In order to purify the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide from the cleared lysate, purification with affinity resin (TALONTM Metal Affinity Resin, manufactured by CLONTECH) was carried out as follows:

Two ml of the affinity resin equilibrated with the sonication buffer and the cleared lysate of the above working Example 3-2 (1) were mixed under shaking for 20 minutes, to which the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was ligated. After removing the supernatant by centrifugation at 700×g, the affinity resin was mixed under shaking in 20 ml of the wash buffer (10 mM imidazole, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, pH 8.0) at 4° C. for 10 minutes, followed by the removal of the supernatant by centrifugation at 700×g.

After the affinity resin was mixed under shaking in 20 ml of the wash buffer (10 mM imidazole, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, pH 8.0) at 4° C. for 10 minutes, the resin was washed by removing the supernatant by centrifugation at 700×g. The affinity resin after washing was suspended in 2 ml of the wash buffer and was transferred to the bed support (Poly-Prep Chromatography Column, manufactured by BIO-RAD), and the affinity resin was further washed with 6 ml of the wash buffer.

The affinity resin was subjected to elution by the elution buffer (50 mM imidazole, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, pH 8.0) in six portions of 2 ml each. After elution, the elution buffer was replaced with PBS using the gel filtration column PD-10 (manufactured by Pharmacia), which was used as a purified product of the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide. The purity of the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was measured by the BCA* Protein Assay Reagent (manufactured by PIERCE) using BSA as a standard.

Example 4 Preparation of the Recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG Example 4-1 Construction of the Expression Vector

By an expression system using Escherichia coli (E. coli), an expression vector for expression in E. coli of a fusion polypeptide of a polypeptide comprising 81 amino acids at the carboxy terminal of the human TAB1 polypeptide and maltose-binding protein was constructed. At this time, a FLAG tag was added to the carboxy terminal of the above fusion polypeptide in order to facilitate purification and detection.

In order to obtain a DNA fragment encoding 81 amino acids at the carboxy terminal of the human TAB1 and the FLAG tag, a PCR method was carried out with plasmid pBacTABF as a template using a sense primer TABC1 (SEQ ID NO: 16) and an antisense primer TABC3 (SEQ ID NO: 17) that were synthesized using a primer synthesizer.

The sense primer TABC1 comprises a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide C at position 1281 to nucleotide T at position 1307 of the region encoding the human TAB1 polypeptide contained in plasmid pBacTABF as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9 after the recognition site of the restriction enzyme XmnI.

The antisense primer TAB1AS comprises a nucleotide sequence complementary to a series of nucleotide sequences comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a nucleotide sequence encoding the FLAG tag, two stop codons, and a recognition site of the restriction enzyme HindIII, after a nucleotide sequence from nucleotide C at position 1489 to nucleotide G at position 1518 of the region encoding the human TAB1 polypeptide contained in the plasmid pBacTABF as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9.

The PCR method comprised a total of 25 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 55° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 1 minute per cycle. PCR reaction products were separated and purified by a 1% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma), digested with the restriction enzymes XmnI and HindIII, and then were inserted into a fusion polypeptide expression vector pMAL-p2, (manufactured by New England Biolabs).

Example 4-2 Expression of the Fusion Polypeptide

A fusion polypeptide was expressed according to the instructions by New England Biolabs. Thus, E. coli having the plasmid obtained as above was grown overnight and 2 ml thereof was inoculated into 200 ml of a rich broth (10 g tryptone, 5 g yeast extract, 5 g NaCl, 2 g glucose, 100 mg ampicillin/liter). It was incubated under shaking at 37° C. till the cell density reached A₆₀₀=1, at which time IPTG (isopropylthiogalactoside) was added to a final concentration of 0.3 mM. It was further incubated under shaking at 37° C. for 2 hours and then was centrifuged at 4000×g for 10 minutes to harvest the cells.

Example 4-3 Preparation of the Periplasm Fraction

The cells collected in the above Example 4-2 was resuspended in 25 ml of 30 mM Tris, 20% sucrose, pH 8.0, and 50 μl of 0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0, was added thereto followed by incubation under shaking for 10 minutes. Subsequently, it was cetrifuged at 8000×g to remove the supernatant and the cells were resuspended in 25 ml of ice-cold 5 mM MgSO₄ and was further incubated under shaking in the ice. After centrifugation at 8000×g, the supernatant was recovered as the periplasm fraction.

Example 4-4 Purification with the Anti-FLAG M2 Affinity Gel

In order to purify recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide from the periplasm fraction, affinity purification with anti-FLAG M2 antibody was carried out in a similar manner to Example 3-1 (2) to obtain a purified product of the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide.

Example 5 Construction of an ELISA System Using the Purified Product

Using the purified product obtained as above an ELISA system was constructed to detect in vitro an interaction between the recombinant human TAB1 polypeptide or the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide and the recombinant human-TAK1 polypeptide. In the ELISA system it is intended to contact the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide or the human MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide to a 96-well immunoplate to which the human TAK1-6×His polypeptide had been previously immobilized and thereby to detect the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide or the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide using a primary and secondary antibody.

Example 5-1 Construction of an in vitro Binding-Evaluation System

(1) The purified product of human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was diluted in the immobilization buffer (0.1 M NaHCO₃, 0.02% NaN₃, pH 9.6). To each well of a 96-well immunoplate (manufactured by Nunc) was added 100 μl each of the diluted aqueous solution (equivalent to 100 ng of the human TAK1-6×His polypeptide), and the plate was incubated overnight at 4° C.

After each well was washed three times with the wash buffer (diluted to 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), 200 μl of a 5% BSA (manufactured by SIMGA) solution dissolved in PBS was added thereto and was blocked overnight at 4° C.

Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of the human MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide diluted in the dilution buffer (1% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20, PBS) was added thereto and was incubated at room temperature for one hour. Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of rabbit anti-MBP antiserum (manufactured by New England Biolabs) diluted 5000-fold in the dilution buffer was added to each well and was incubated at room temperature for one hour. Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-rabbit antibody (manufactured by TAGO) diluted 5000-fold in the dilution buffer was added to each well and was incubated at room temperature for one hour.

After each well was washed five times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of the color development solution (the substrate buffer; p-nitrophenyl phosphate dissolved to 1 mg/ml in 50 mM NaHCO₃, 10 mM MgCl₂₁ pH 9.8, manufactured by Sigma) was added to each well and was incubated at room temperature, and then absorbance at 405 nm was determined using a microplate reader (Model 3550, manufactured by BIO-RAD).

The result confirmed that the absorbance increased depending on the concentration of the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide. On the other hand, there were no increases in absorbance dependent on the concentration of the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide in the group in which the human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was not immobilized (FIG. 2). This indicated that the contacted recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide specifically bound to the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide.

(2) The purified product of human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was diluted in the immobilization buffer (0.1 M NaHCO₃, 0.02% NaN₃, pH 9.6). To each well of a 96-well immunoplate (manufactured by Nunc) was added 100 μl each of the diluted aqueous solution (equivalent to 80 ng of the human TAK1-6×His polypeptide), and the plate was incubated overnight at 4° C.

After each well was washed three times with the wash buffer (diluted to 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), 200 μl of a 5% BSA (manufactured by SIMGA) solution dissolved in PBS was added thereto and was blocked overnight at 4° C.

Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, and 100 μl of the human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide diluted in the dilution buffer (1% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20, PBS) was added and was incubated at room temperature for one hour. Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of mouse anti-FLAG antibody (manufactured by IBI) diluted to 3 μg/ml in the dilution buffer was added to each well, and was incubated at room temperature for one hour.

Then each well was washed three times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (manufactured by ZYMED) diluted 1000-fold in the dilution buffer was added to each well and was incubated at room temperature for one hour. After each well was washed five times with the wash buffer, 100 μl of the color development solution (the substrate buffer; p-nitrophenyl phosphate dissolved to 1 mg/ml in 50 mM NaHCO₃, 10 mM MgCl₂, pH 9.8, manufactured by Sigma) was added to each well and was incubated at room temperature, and then absorbance at 405 nm was determined using a microplate reader (Model 3550, manufactured by BIO-RAD).

The result confirmed that the absorbance increased depending on the concentration of the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide. On the other hand, there were no increases in absorbance dependent on the concentration of the human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide in the group in which the human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was not immobilized (FIG. 3).

This indicated that the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide that was prepared in the baculovirus expression system specifically bound to the human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide in vitro.

Example 5-2 A Binding-Inhibition Study Using the Recombinant Human TAB1-FLAG Polypeptide

It was investigated whether the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide used as an inhibiting substance inhibits binding between the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide and the recombinant TAK1 polypeptide.

In a similar manner to that in the above 5-1 (2), the recombinant human TAK1-6×His polypeptide was immobilized and was blocked. Then the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide that was serially diluted in the dilution buffer was added as a binding-inhibiting substance to each well together with 16.5 μl each of the recombinant MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide and incubated.

Thereafter, absorbance was determined as in the above, the result of which confirmed the decrease in absorbance dependent on the concentration of the recombinant human TAB1-FLAG polypeptide added as a binding-inhibiting substance (FIG. 4).

The foregoing has shown that the in vitro binding-evaluation system constructed in Example 2-1 is effective as a system for screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the MBP-TAB1C-FLAG polypeptide.

Example 6 Construction of the TAK1-DN Expression Vector and Establishment of the Recombinant

In order to demonstrate that the signal transduction of TGF-β can be inhibited by inhibiting specific binding between the human TAK1 polypeptide and the human TAB1 polypeptide, TAK1-DN expression vector that acts as a dominant negative inhibitor was constructed, was introduced into various cells described below, and the reactivity to TGF-β was characterized.

TAK1-DN has an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid Glu at position 77 to amino acid Gln at position 303 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 which is the TAB1 binding site of the TAK1 polypeptide. The gene fragment encoding TAK1-DN was amplified using ph-TAK1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9(1997)-163990) by the PCR method. Thus, using a sense primer TAK1S (SEQ ID NO: 18) containing the restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition site and the initiation codon ATG and an antisense primer TAK1AS (SEQ ID NO: 19) containing the restriction enzyme NotI recognition site and the stop codon, a DNA fragment encoding TAK1-DN was amplified.

The PCR products thus obtained were digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and NotI, and then were inserted into an EcoRI recognition site of an animal cell expression vector pCOS1 containing EF1-α promoter and the neomycin resistant gene to produce an expression vector pTAK1DN. The expression vector pCOS1 was constructed by deleting the gene contained from plasmid HEF-PMh-gγ1(see WO 92-19759) by digesting with EcoRI and Sam I and then ligating the EcoRI-NotI-bamHI Adaptor (manufactured by Takara Shuzo).

Then, pTAK1DN or pCOS1 that contains no inserted genes as a control vector was linearized by digesting with a restriction enzyme PvuI. These linearized vectors were introduced by electroporation into human fibroblast-derived HT-1080 (ATCC CCL 121), a mouse kidney mesangial cell line SV40MES13 (ATCC CRL 1927), and a mink pulmonary epithelial cell line Mv1Lu (ATCC CCL 64), and cells into which the gene was introduced were selected using G418 (manufactured by GIBCO-BRL).

Expression of each gene was confirmed by the RT-PCR method using primer TA5 (SEQ ID NO: 20) and primer HG1-R1 (SEQ ID NO: 21). Thus, mRNA was isolated from the gene-introduced cells using the Quick Prep mRNA Micro Purification kit (manufactured by Pharmacia). Then using the First Strand cDNA Synthesis kit (manufactured by Pharmacia), cDNA was synthesized from 150 ng of mRNA. The introduction of the gene was confirmed using 5 μl of cDNA reaction mixture as a template.

Example 7 The Action of TGF-β in Human Fibroblast-Derived HT-1080

The human fibroblast-derived HT-1080 cells (HT/DN2 and HT/DN14) into which pTAK1DN had been introduced and the control cells (HT/NEO) into which pCOS1 containing no inserted genes had been introduced were incubated in a low-serum medium (Medium 199 containing 0.2% FBS; manufactured by GIBCO BRL) with or without 1 ng/ml TGF-β (manufactured by King Jozo) for 24 hours. The amount of fibronectin in the culture supernatant or the extracellular matrix extract prepared using 1 M urea solution (1 M urea, 1 mM DTT, 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 10 mM EDTA, Protease inhibitor cocktail (CompleteTM, manufactured by Boehringer-Mannheim)) was determined by the EIA method.

Thus, 100 μl of the culture supernatant or the extracellular matrix extract prepared using 1 M urea solution was added to a 96-well microtiter plate (manufactured by Nunc), and the plate was incubated overnight at 4° C. After washing, it was blocked using a 1% BSA solution (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM MgCl₂, 150 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, 0.02% sodium azide), and then 10000 fold-diluted rabbit anti-human fibronectin antibody (manufactured by CALBIOCHEM) was added to the above 1% BSA solution, and was further incubated at room temperature for 2 hours.

After washing, alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-rabbit Ig antibody (manufactured by TAGO) was added, and was further incubated at room temperature for one hour. Then the substrate solution (p-nitrophenyl phosphate; manufactured by Sigma) was added and absorbance at 450 nm was measured. As a standard, human fibronectin (manufactured by Cappel) was used.

The results are shown in FIGS. 5A and B. In FIGS. 5A and B, the numerical values indicate the mean+/−SD of the culture supernatant and the extracellular matrix extracts prepared using 1 M urea, each prepared from 3 wells.

In the control cells HT/NEO, TGF-β addition increased fibronectin in the culture supernatant by about 6.1 fold, and that in the extracellular matrix extract by about 11.4 fold. On the other hand, in HT/DN2 and HT/DN14, cells that express TAK1-DN, fibronectin in the culture supernatant increased by about 2.6 and 3.0 fold, respectively, and that in the extracellular matrix extract increased by about 3.5 and 3.6 fold, respectively. These results indicated that the production of fibronectin by TGF-β and the incorporation of fibronectin into the matrix were suppressed by the expression of TAK1-DN.

Example 8 Effect of TGF-β on Mouse Kidney Mesangial Cell Line SV40MES13

The mouse mesangial cell line SV40MES13 (MES/DN3 and MES/DN6) into which pTAK1DN had been introduced and the control cells (MES/NEO) into which pCOS1 containing no inserted genes had been introduced were incubated in a low-serum medium (Medium 199 containing 0.2% FBS) with or without 2.5 ng/ml TGF-β for 24 hours. The amount of fibronectin in the culture supernatant or the extracellular matrix extract prepared using 1 M urea solution was determined by the EIA method as described in Example 7.

The results are shown in FIGS. 6A and B. In FIGS. 6A and B, the numerical values indicate the mean+/−SD of the culture supernatant and the extracellular matrix extracts prepared using 1 M urea, each prepared from 3 wells. In the control cells MES/NEO, TGF-β addition increased fibronectin in the culture supernatant by about 3.3 fold, and that in the extracellular matrix extract by about 3.8 fold. On the other hand, in MED/DN3 and MES/DN6, cells that express TAK1-DN, fibronectin in the culture supernatant increased by about 2.4 and 2.3 fold, respectively, and that in the extracellular matrix extract increased by-about 2.6 and 2.1 fold, respectively. These results indicated that the production of fibronectin by TGF-β and the incorporation of fibronectin into the matrix were-suppressed by the expression of TAK1-DN.

Furthermore, the amount of type I and type IV collagen in the culture supernatant was determined by the EIA method. Thus, 100 μl of the culture supernatant was added to a 96-well microtiter plate (manufactured by Nunc), and the plate was incubated overnight at 4° C. After washing, it was blocked using the above 1% BSA solution, and then 5000-fold diluted rabbit anti-mouse type I collagen antibody (manufactured by LSL) or rabbit anti-mouse type IV collagen antibody (manufactured by LSL) was added, and was further incubated at room temperature for 2 hours. After washing, alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-rabbit Ig antibody (manufactured by TAGO) was added, and was further incubated at room temperature for one hour. Then the substrate solution (manufactured by Sigma) was added and absorbance at 450 nm was measured. As a standard, mouse type I collagen (manufactured by Chemicon) or mouse type IV collagen (manufactured by Cosmobio) was used.

The results are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the numerical values indicate the mean+/−SD of the culture supernatant and the extracellular matrix extracts prepared using 1 M urea, each prepared from 3 wells. In the control cells MES/NEO, TGF-β addition increased type I collagen in the culture supernatant by about 3.6 fold, and type IV collagen by about 2.0 fold. On the other hand, in MED/DN3 and MES/DN6, cells that express TAK1-DN, type I collagen in the culture supernatant increased by about 2.0 and 2.0 fold, respectively, and type IV collagen increased by about 1.5 and 1.4 fold, respectively. These results indicated that the production of type I collagen and type IV collagen by TGF-β was suppressed by the expression of TAK1-DN.

Example 9 Effect of TGF-β on Mink Epithelial Cell Line Mv1Lu

It is known that the cellular growth of mink epithelial cell line Mv1Lu is stopped at the G1 phase by stimulation with TGF-β. Accordingly, effects on the inhibition of cellular growth of TAK1-DN can be investigated using the mink epithelial cell line Mv1Lu.

The mink epithelial cell line Mv1Lu (Mv/DN1 and Mv/DN4) into which pTAK1DN had been introduced and the control cells (Mv/NEO) into which pCOS1 containing no inserted genes had been introduced were incubated in a low-serum medium (Medium 199 containing 0.2% FBS) with or without various concentrations of TGF-β for 24 hours. Then BrdU (manufactured by Boehringer Mannheim) was added to a final concentration of 1 mM and was further incubated for 4 hours. Cellular growth could be evaluated by determining the amount of BrdU incorporated into the cells according to the instructions by the manufacturer.

Example 10 Construction of TAB1 Deletion Mutant Expression Vector

In order to determine the region in the TAB1 polypeptide that is required for binding to the TAK1 polypeptide by the yeast 2-hybrid method, expression vectors for TAB1 deletion mutants were constructed. Thus, it was designed that the TAB1 partial polypeptide can be expressed as a fusion polypeptide with the GAL4 transcription activated domain polypeptide in yeast cells by constructing a gene fragment encoding a partial polypeptide of the TAB1 polypeptide, which is then inserted into a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector pGAD10 (manufactured by CLONTECH), and was so constructed.

Example 10-1 Construction of Deletion Mutants from the Amino Terminal

TAB1C45, TAB1C25, TAB1C24, TAB1C23, TAB1C22, TAB1C21 and TAB1C20 are polypeptides that comprise 45, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21 and 20 amino acids, respectively, of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 (FIG. 11). An expression vector that expresses each of TAB1, C45, TAB1C25, TAB1C24, TAB1C23, TAB1C22, TAB1C21 and TAB1C20 as a fusion polypeptide with the GAL4 transcription activated domain polypeptide was constructed as follows:

The gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 was amplified by the PCR method using pGAD-TAB1 (Shibuya H. et al., Science (1996) 272, .1179-1182) as a template. pGAD-TAB1 is a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector that expresses a fusion polypeptide of the 68 amino acids of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain polypeptide. Primers used are a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) that contains a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) that contains a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons. The PCR method comprised a total of 15 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 55° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 1 minute per cycle.

PCR reaction products were separated and purified by a 1% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma), digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and EcoRI, and then were inserted into a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector pGAD-TAB1 (manufactured by CLONTECH) to obtain a plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C25 was amplified using a sense primer C25× (SEQ ID NO: 26) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C25 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C25 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C24 was amplified using a sense primer C24× (SEQ ID NO: 27) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C24 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C24 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C23 was amplified using a sense primer C23× (SEQ ID NO: 28) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C23 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C23 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C22 was amplified using a sense primer C22× (SEQ ID NO: 29) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C22 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C22 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C21 was amplified using a sense primer C21× (SEQ ID NO: 30) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C21 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C21 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C20 was amplified using a sense primer C20× (SEQ ID NO: 31) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and plasmid pGAD-TAB1C20 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C20 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

Example 10-2 Deletion from the Carboxy Terminal

Polypeptides that further lack polypeptides sequentially from the carboxy terminal of the polypeptide comprising 45 amino acids of the carboxy terminal portion of TAB1, i. e. TAB1C45 Δ14, TAB1C45 Δ19, TAB1C45 Δ20, TAB1C45 Δ21, TAB1C45 Δ22, TAB1C45 Δ23, TAB1C45 Δ24 and TAB1C45 Δ25 (FIG. 12), were designed as follows:

Thus, TAB1C45 Δ14 is a polypeptide that lacks 14 amino acids from the carboxy terminal of the polypeptide comprising 45 amino acids of the carboxy terminal portion of TAB1. Similarly, TAB1C45 Δ19, TAB1C45 Δ20, TAB1C45 Δ21, TAB1C45 Δ22, TAB1C45 Δ23, TAB1C45 Δ24 and TAB1C45 Δ25 are polypeptides that lack 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 amino acids, respectively, from the carboxy terminal of the polypeptide comprising 45 amino acids of the carboxy terminal portion of TAB1.

Plasmids that express these polypeptides as fusion polypeptides with the GAL4 transcription activated domain were constructed as follows:

The gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ14 polypeptide was amplified by the PCR method using pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template. Thus, PCR was carried out using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) that contains a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCD14A (SEQ ID NO: 32) that contains a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons. The PCR method comprised a total of 15 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 550° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 1 minute per cycle.

PCR reaction products were separated and purified by a 1% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma), digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and EcoRI, and then were inserted into a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector pGAD10 (manufactured by CLONTECH) to obtain a plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D14 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ14 polypeptide and the GAL4 transcription activated domain.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ19 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD19A (SEQ ID NO: 33) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D19 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ19 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ20 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD20 (SEQ ID NO: 34) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D20 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ20 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ21 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD21 (SEQ ID NO: 35) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D21 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ21 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ22 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD22 (SEQ ID NO: 36) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D22 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ22 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ23 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD23 (SEQ ID NO: 37) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D23 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ23 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ24 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD24 (SEQ ID NO: 38) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D24 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ24 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

A gene fragment that encodes TAB1C45 Δ25 was amplified using a sense primer TABC45 (SEQ ID NO: 24) and an antisense primer TABCD25 (SEQ ID NO: 39) containing a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition sequence and 2 stop codons by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template, and thereby plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45D25 that expresses a fusion polypeptide of TAB1C45 Δ25 and the GAL4 transcription activated domain was obtained.

Example 11 Transformation of Yeast

In order to evaluate each TAB1 deletion mutant constructed in Example 10, a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector of each TAB1 deletion mutant and a yeast 2-hybrid expression vector pBTMHu11F (Shibuya H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182) that expresses TAK1 were co-transformed into a yeast strain L40 (Shibuya H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182). One mg each of a TAB1 deletion mutant expression vector (pGAD-TAB1C45 to pGAD-TAB1C45 in Working Example 10-1 and pGAD-TAB1C45D14 to pGAD-TAB1C45D25 in Working Example 10-2) or pGAD-TAB1 (Shibuya H. et al., Science (1996) 272, 1179-1182) as a control and pBTMHu11F were introduced into the L40 strain according to the instructions (MATCHMAKER™ Two-Hybrid System, manufactured by CLONTECH), and were incubated on a selection agar medium SD-ULW (glucose 20 g, agar (manufactured by DIFCO) 20 g, Yeast Nitrogen Base w/o amino acids (manufactured by DIFCO) 6.7 g, adenine 100 mg, isoleucine 30 mg, valine 150 mg, arginine 20 mg, lysine 30 mg, methionine 20 mg, phenylalanine 50 mg, threonine 200 mg, tyrosine 30 mg, histidine 100 mg-per liter of medium) at 30° C. for 3 days to obtain each transformant.

Example 12 Evaluation of the Binding Ability of TAB1 Deletion Mutants to TAK1

In order to evaluate the binding ability to TAK1 of each TAB1 deletion mutant constructed in Example 10, activity was determined by the yeast 2-hybrid method. Since a reporter gene lacZ having the LexA binding sequence upstream thereof has been integrated on the chromosome of the yeast strain L40, the binding ability to TAK1 of each TAB1 deletion mutant can be evaluated in relative terms by measuring the activity of β-galactosidase that is a reporter gene product.

Example 12-1 Evaluation of Deletion Mutants (TAB1C45 to TAB1C20) from the Amino Terminal

The β-galactosidase activity of each transformant obtained in Example 11 was determined according to the instructions (MATCHMAKER™ Two-Hybrid System, manufactured by CLONTECH), and the activity was calculated using Miller Unit (Miller, J. H. (1972) Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

The results are shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the β-galactosidase activity of each TAB1 deletion mutant and the yeast L40 transformed by the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1 was expressed in terms of Miller Units. Measurement was carried out three times and the mean+/−SD is shown. The value indicates a ratio based on the β-galactosidase activity of the yeast L40 transformed by TAB1C68 and the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1.

Since specific activities of TAB1C25 and TAB1C24 are 0.28 and 0.35, respectively, whereas those of TAB1C23, TAB1C22, TAB1C21 and TAB1C20 markedly decrease to 0.05, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.03, respectively, the amino terminal of the region required for binding of TAB1 to TAK1 is believed to be the amino terminal Tyr residue (amino acid position 481 in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2) of TAB1C24.

Example 12-2 Evaluation of Deletion Mutants (TAB1C45 Δ14 to TAB1C45 Δ25) from the Carboxy Terminal

The β-galactosidase activity of each transformant obtained in Example 11 was determined according to the instructions (MATCHMAKER™ Two-Hybrid System, manufactured by CLONTECH), and the activity was calculated using Miller Units (Miller, J. H. (1972) Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

The results are shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the β-galactosidase activity of the yeast L40 transformed by each TAB1 deletion mutant and the yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1 was expressed in terms of Miller Units. Measurement was carried out three times and the mean+/−SD is shown. The value indicates a ratio based on the β-galactosidase activity of the yeast L40 transformed by the TAB1C68 and yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid of TAK1.

Since specific activities of TAB1C45 Δ19 and TAB1C45 Δ20 are 0.13 and 0.11, respectively, whereas those of TAB1C45 Δ21, TAB1C45 Δ22, TAB1C45 Δ23, TAB1C45 Δ24 and TAB1C45 Δ25 markedly decrease to 0.01, 0.02, 0.00, 0.02 and 0.01, respectively, the carboxy terminal of the region required for binding of TAB1 to TAK1 is believed to be the carboxy terminal Phe residue (amino acid position 484 in the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2) of TAB1C45 Δ20.

From the foregoing, the region required for binding of TAB1 to TAK1 is believed to be the region from Tyr at amino acid position 481 to Phe at amino acid position 484 of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.

Example 13 Binding-Inhibition Study Using Synthetic Peptides

The fact that a synthetic peptide containing the amino acid sequence identified as the TAK1 binding region can inhibit binding between TAK1 and TAB1 was confirmed by the following experiment. Thus, a peptide TAB1C-1 (SEQ ID NO: 40) comprising 16 amino acid residues containing the TAK1 binding region of TAB1 described in the above Example and a control peptide TAB1C-2 (SEQ ID NO: 41) containing an amino acid sequence from Gln at position 437 to Gln at position 451 of TAB1 were each synthesized, and were evaluated for their effects on the binding between TAK1 and TAB1. The TAK1 and TAB1 used in the present invention were prepared in the following manner. Thus, the TAK1 expression vector or the TAB1 expression vector, was introduced into COS-7 cells using LIPOFECTOAMINE (manufactured by GIBCO-BRL) by a standard method. After incubating for 72 hours, the cells were harvested and washed with PBS. Subsequently, they were suspended in the lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1% NP-40, Complete Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Boehringer Mannheim)), incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour, and the insoluble components were removed by centrifugation to prepare each cell extract.

The TAK1 expression vector pCOS-TAK1 was constructed as described below. Thus, plasmid pBacTABF having a nucleotide sequence encoding TAK1-6×His was digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and NotI, and a gene fragment containing a nucleotide sequence encoding TAK1-6×His was purified using a 1.5% low-melting point agarose gel (manufactured by Sigma) and was inserted to an expression vector pCOS1 to construct pCOS-TAK1. The TAB1 expression vector pCOS-FTAKB1 was constructed as described below. Thus, a gene fragment encoding RLAG-TAB1 (SEQ ID NO: 42) to which was added a FLAG tag comprising 8 amino acids to the amino terminal of TAB1 was amplified by the PCR method using pBacTABF as a template DNA. The PCR method was carried out as described above using Eco-MetFTAB (SEQ ID NO: 44) as a sense primer that was designed to contain a nucleotide sequence encoding a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition site, ATG initiation codon, and a FLAG tag and TABC-Not (SEQ ID NO: 45) as an antisense primer that was designed to contain a stop codon and a restriction enzyme NotI recognition site. The PCR product was digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and NotI, inserted into pCOS1, and the plasmid that has the correct base sequence was used as the expression vector pCOS-FTAB1.

Subsequently, cell extracts each containing TAK1-6×His or FLAG-TAB1 and a 5 mM synthetic peptide were mixed to a final concentration of 50 or 500 mM, respectively, and then incubated overnight at 4° C. It was then immunoprecipitated using anti-TAK1 antibody, and the amount of bound TAK1 and TAB1 was evaluated by determining the amount of TAB1 that coprecipitated by Western analysis. Thus, 2 mg each of anti-TAK1 polyclonal antibody (manufactured by SantaCruz) was added to each reaction mixture, and further incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour. Then 40 μl (50% v/v) of Protein-G Sepharose (manufactured by Pharmacia) was added thereto, and was further incubated for 1 hour. After the immunoprecipitate was washed three times with TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20, it was subjected to SDS-PAGE. The immunoprecipitate separated by SDS-PAGE was transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (manufactured by Schleicher & Schuell) and was subjected to a Western analysis. After it was blocked using a TBS solution containing 5% BSA, TAK1 in the immunoprecipitate was detected using anti-TAK1 antibody (manufactured by SantaCruz) and the coprecipitataed FLAG-TAB1 was detected using anti-FLAG M2 antibody (manufactured by Kodak). The amount of TAK1 and FLAG-TAB1 was each determined by quantifying each band using an analysis software Quantity One (manufactured by PDI), and the amount of the coprecipitated FLAG-TAB1 was corrected with the amount of TAK1 to obtain the amount bound of TAK1 and TAB1.

The result is shown in FIG. 13. Compared to the case wherein no synthetic peptides were added, no decrease in binding between TAK1 and TAB1 was observed when the control peptide TAB1C-2 was added, whereas a decrease in the amount of coprecipitated FLAG-TAB1 was observed when TAB1C-1 was added. The above result indicates that a synthetic peptide containing the TAK1 binding region has an activity of inhibiting binding between TAK1 and TAB1. Accordingly, it is believed that synthetic peptides containing the amino acid sequence identified as the TAK1 binding region or derivatives thereof and substances that act on that region act on binding between TAK1 and TAB1 and activate or inhibit signal transduction from TAK1.

Example 14 Identification of the TAB1 Region Essential for the Induction of TAK1 Activation

The region of TAB1 required to induce the kinase activity after binding to TAK1 was identified using TAB1 deletion mutants.

Expression vectors for the 40, 35 and 30 amino acid regions (FIG. 14) in the carboxy terminal of TAB1 were constructed as described below. Thus, genes encoding 40, 35 and 30 amino acid regions respectively in the carboxy terminal of TAB1 were amplified by the PCR method as described above, digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and EcoRI, and inserted to the GAL4 transcription activated domain expression vector pGAD10 to construct pGAD-TAB1C40, pGAD-TAB1C35 and pGAD-TAB1C30, respectively. Furthermore, expression vectors for the TAB1 deletion mutants (FIG. 14) comprising 68, 45 and 25 amino acid regions in the carboxy terminal of TAB1 used were pGAD-TAB1, pGAD-TAB1C45 and pGAD-TAB1C25.

The gene encoding the 40 amino acid region of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 was amplified using a sense primer TABC40 (SEQ ID NO: 46) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template DNA.

The gene encoding the 35 amino acid region of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 was amplified using a sense primer TABC35 (SEQ ID NO: 47) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template DNA.

The gene encoding the 30 amino acid region of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 was amplified using a sense primer TABC30 (SEQ ID NO: 48) containing a restriction enzyme XhoI recognition sequence and an antisense primer TABCapEc (SEQ ID NO: 25) by the PCR method with plasmid pGAD-TAB1C45 as a template DNA.

First, binding between the 68, 45, 40, 35, 30 and 25 amino acid regions of the carboxy terminal of TAB1 and TAK1 was evaluated by the yeast 2-hybrid method mentioned above.

Subsequently, it was investigated whether each TAB1 deletion mutant can induce the kinase activity of TAK1 using the method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) 9(1997)-163990. Thus, the above TAB1 deletion mutant expression vector and TAK1 expression vector pNV11-HU11 (Yamaguchi, K. et al., Science (1995) 270, 2008-2011) were introduced into Saccharomyces cereviceae SY1984-P strain (his3Δ, stellΔ, FUS1p::HIS3, STE7^(P368)) to obtain deletion mutants. In this yeast strain, the original his3 is lacking, and hence it can only grow when foreign histidine is present in the medium or when the lacking Ste11 activity is complemented by mutation. These transformants were plated onto a SC-His (glucose 20 g, agar (manufactured by DIFCO) 20 g, Yeast Nitrogen Base w/o amino acids (manufactured by DIFCO) 6.7 g, adenine 100 mg, isoleucine 30 mg, valine 150 mg, arginine 20 mg, lysine 30 mg, methionine 20 mg, phenylalanine 50 mg, threonine 200 mg, tyrosine 30 mg per liter of medium) plate containing no histidine, incubated at 30° C., and the growth of yeast transformed with each expression vector was confirmed in order to evaluate the ability of each TAB1deletion mutant to activate TAK1.

These results are shown in FIG. 14. Binding to TAK1 was observed for all TAB1 deletion mutants whereas the ability to activate TAK1 for each TAB1 mutant was observed for TAB1C68, 45, 40, 35 and 30 but not for TAB1C25. From these results, it is believed that the region important for TAK1 activation is present in between No. 30 and No. 26 (corresponding to Asp at position 475 to Glu at position 479 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2) from the carboxy terminal. Thus, peptides that lack an amino acid sequence of this region, or peptides that contain this amino acid sequence or derivatives thereof as well as substances that act on this region can serve as an inhibitor or inducer or a stimulator of TAK1 activation.

Reference Example 1

It was analyzed whether a polypeptide (TAK1-DN) comprising Glu at position 77 to Gln at position 303 of the TAK1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 inhibits binding between the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide and whether it can inhibit the activation of the TAK1 polypeptide in animal cells by an animal cell 2-hybrid system (Dang et al., (1991) Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 954-962) using the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide.

First, a gene encoding a full-length TAK1 and TAK1-DN and a gene encoding the GAL4 DNA-binding domain (GAL4-BD) were ligated to construct an expression vector. A gene encoding a full-length TAK1 was prepared by digesting yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid pBTMHu11F (Shibuya H. et al., (1996) 272, 1179-1182) with restriction enzymes EcoRI and PstI, and was then linked to the EcoRI/Pst site of an expression vector pM (manufactured by CLONTECH) containing the GAL4-BD gene, which was termed an animal cell 2-hybrid expression plasmid pM-TAK1.

Subsequently, a gene encoding TAK1-DN was amplified using a sense primer DNTAK5′, (SEQ ID NO: 22) to which a restriction enzyme EcoRI recognition site had been added and an antisense primer DNTAK3′ (SEQ ID NO: 23) to which a restriction enzyme PstI recognition site had been added by PCR with plasmid pBTMHu11F as a template DNA. After digestion with restriction enzymes EcoRI and PstI, it was ligated to the pM vector to obtain an animal cell 2-hybrid expression plasmid pM-TAK1DN.

Then, a gene encoding TAB1C68 comprising 68 amino acid residues of the carboxy terminal of the TAB1 polypeptide and a gene encoding VP16 protein-derived transcription activated domain (VP16-AD) of herpes simplex virus were ligated to construct an expression vector. A gene encoding TAB1C68 was prepared by digesting yeast 2-hybrid expression plasmid pGAD-TAB1 (Shibuya H. et al., (1996) 272, 1179-1182) with a restriction enzyme EcoRI, and was then linked to the EcoRI site of an expression vector pVP16 (manufactured by CLONTECH) containing a gene encoding VP16-AD, which was termed an animal cell 2-hybrid expression plasmid pVP16-C68.

The reporter plasmid used was pG-Luc in which a gene encoding CAT of pG5CAT (manufactured by CLONTECH) having five contiguous GAL4 binding sites and the chloramphenicol asetyltransferase (CAT) gene downstream thereof replaced with the luciferase gene.

After incubating overnight CHO cells (5×10⁴ cells/well), they were washed with PBS. Then a mixture comprising 500 ng of a GAL4-BD fusion protein expression plasmid (either of pM, pM-TAK1, and pM-TAK1DN), 500 ng of a VP16-AD fusion protein expression plasmid (either of pVp16 and pVp16-C68), 100 ng of the reporter plasmid pG5-Luc and 50 ng of pRL-SV40 (containing the luciferase gene of Renilla downstream of SV40 promoter: manufactured by Promega) and 10 ml of LIPOFECTOAMINE (manufactured by GIBCO-BRL) was added thereto and was incubated for 5 hours to introduce genes.

After further incubating for 72 hours, luciferase activity in each cell extract was determined using the Dual-LuciferaseTM Assay System (manufactured by Promega). Thus, after the cells were washed with PBS, 250 ml of the Passive Lysis Buffer was added thereto, incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes, and 20 μl of each was used as the cell extract for the assay. The efficiency of gene introduction was corrected with the measured value of luciferase activity of Renilla by pRL-SV40. The result is shown in FIG. 9.

Similarly to the combination of pM-TAK1 and pVP16-C68, increases in luciferase activity was confirmed for the combination of pM-TAK1DN and pVP16-C68, revealing that TAK1DN, as the full-length TAK1, binds to TAB1.

Reference Example 2

Since TAK1DN does not contain lysine at position 63 of SEQ ID NO: 2 that is an amino acid residue essential for ATP binding for the TAK1 polypeptide to exhibit kinase activity, it is expected to exhibit no kinase activity by itself. It is also expected to inhibit the activation of endogenous TAK1 polypeptide through inhibition of binding between the full-length TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide by binding to the TAB1 polypeptide in the cell.

It has been demonstrated that PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1) expression is increased due to stimulation by TGF-β in the Mv1Lu cell and that PAI-1 expression is inhibited by forced expression of a catalytically inactive TAK1 polypeptide mutant TAK1-K63W (Yamaguchi K. et al., (1995) Science 270, 2008-2011).

Accordingly, TAK1DN was subjected to forced expression in the Mv1Lu cell to investigate the effects of TGF-β stimulation on PAI-1 expression. The TAK1DN expression vector used was the above-mentioned TAK1DN, and the TAK1 polypeptide mutant TAK1-K63W expression vector was constructed by inserting a gene (Yamaguchi K. et al., (1995) Science 270, 2008-2011) encoding the TAK1 polypeptide mutant TAK1-K63W in which the lysine residue at position 63 has been replaced with the tryptophan residue at the EcoRI and NotI restriction enzyme site of pCOS1 to give pTAK1K63W.

The Mv1Lu cells into which pTAK1Dn had been introduced (Mv/DN2), the cells into which pTAK1K63W had been introduced (Mv/KN7), and the control cells into which pCOS1 containing no inserted genes (Mv/NEO) had been introduced were each incubated in a low-serum medium (MEM medium containing 0.2% FBS; manufactured by GIBCO-BRL) with or without 10 ng/ml of TGF-β1 for 24 hours. The amount of PAI-1 in the culture supernatant was determined using the PAI-1 Quantative ELISA (manufactured by CALBIOCHEM). The results are shown in FIG. 10.

In the control cells there was an about 16-fold increase in PAI-1 by TGF-β1 addition in the culture supernatant, whereas in the MV/KN6 cells that express the TAK1 polypeptide mutant TAK1-K63W an increase in PAI-1 was about 6.5 fold and in the Mv/DN2 cells the increase was up to about 4.3 fold. Thus, TAK1DN inhibited the effect of enhancing expression of PAI-1 by TGF-β1 stimulation in a similar manner to the TAK1 polypeptide mutant TAK1-K63W.

The forgoing has shown that TAK1DN inhibits signal transduction via the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide by TGF-β1 stimulation, by inhibiting binding between the endogenous TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It was revealed that substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide can be screened by the screening method of the present invention. The screening method of the present invention is useful for screening substances that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide. Substances obtained by the screening method of the present invention that inhibit binding between the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide are useful as pharmaceutical agents.

Reference to the microorganisms deposited under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, Rule 13-2, and the name of the Depository Institute

Depository Institute

Name: the National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Address: 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan

Organism (1)

Indication: Escherichia coli MC1061/P3 (pEF-TAK1DN)

Accession number: FERM BP-5245

Date deposited: Sep. 28, 1995

Organism (2)

Indication: Escherichia coli MC1061/P3 (pEF-TAK1)

Accession number: FERM BP-5246

Date deposited: Sep. 28, 1995

Organism (3)

Indication: Escherichia coli HB101 (pBS-TAB1)

Accession number: FERM BP-5508

Date deposited: Apr. 19, 1996

Organism (4)

Indication: Escherichia coli JM109 (phTAK1)

Accession number: FERM BP-5598

Date deposited: Jul. 19, 1996

Organism (5)

Indication: Escherichia coli DH5a (TAB1-f-4)

Accession number: FERM BP-5599

Date deposited: Jul. 19, 1996

                   #             SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 48 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 1560 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (30)..(1541) <400> SEQUENCE: 1 gaattcgtgg cccgcagggt tcctccaag atg gcg gcg cag agg # agg agc ttg       53                    #              Met Ala A #la Gln Arg Arg Ser Leu                    #                1   #             5 ctg cag agt gag cag cag cca agc tgg aca ga #t gac ctg cct ctc tgc      101 Leu Gln Ser Glu Gln Gln Pro Ser Trp Thr As #p Asp Leu Pro Leu Cys      10              #     15              #     20 cac ctc tct ggg gtt ggc tca gcc tcc aac cg #c agc tac tct gct gat      149 His Leu Ser Gly Val Gly Ser Ala Ser Asn Ar #g Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asp  25                  # 30                  # 35                  # 40 ggc aag ggc act gag agc cac ccg cca gag ga #c agc tgg ctc aag ttc      197 Gly Lys Gly Thr Glu Ser His Pro Pro Glu As #p Ser Trp Leu Lys Phe                  45  #                 50  #                 55 agg agt gag aac aac tgc ttc ctg tat ggg gt #c ttc aac ggc tat gat      245 Arg Ser Glu Asn Asn Cys Phe Leu Tyr Gly Va #l Phe Asn Gly Tyr Asp              60      #             65      #             70 ggc aac cga gtg acc aac ttc gtg gcc cag cg #g ctg tcc gca gag ctc      293 Gly Asn Arg Val Thr Asn Phe Val Ala Gln Ar #g Leu Ser Ala Glu Leu          75          #         80          #         85 ctg ctg ggc cag ctg aat gcc gag cac gcc ga #g gcc gat gtg cgg cgt      341 Leu Leu Gly Gln Leu Asn Ala Glu His Ala Gl #u Ala Asp Val Arg Arg      90              #     95              #    100 gtg ctg ctg cag gcc ttc gat gtg gtg gag ag #g agc ttc ctg gag tcc      389 Val Leu Leu Gln Ala Phe Asp Val Val Glu Ar #g Ser Phe Leu Glu Ser 105                 1 #10                 1 #15                 1 #20 att gac gac gcc ttg gct gag aag gca agc ct #c cag tcg caa ttg cca      437 Ile Asp Asp Ala Leu Ala Glu Lys Ala Ser Le #u Gln Ser Gln Leu Pro                 125   #               130   #               135 gag gga gtc cct cag cac cag ctg cct cct ca #g tat cag aag atc ctt      485 Glu Gly Val Pro Gln His Gln Leu Pro Pro Gl #n Tyr Gln Lys Ile Leu             140       #           145       #           150 gag aga ctc aag acg tta gag agg gaa att tc #g gga ggg gcc atg gcc      533 Glu Arg Leu Lys Thr Leu Glu Arg Glu Ile Se #r Gly Gly Ala Met Ala         155           #       160           #       165 gtt gtg gcg gtc ctt ctc aac aac aag ctc ta #c gtc gcc aat gtc ggt      581 Val Val Ala Val Leu Leu Asn Asn Lys Leu Ty #r Val Ala Asn Val Gly     170               #   175               #   180 aca aac cgt gca ctt tta tgc aaa tcg aca gt #g gat ggg ttg cag gtg      629 Thr Asn Arg Ala Leu Leu Cys Lys Ser Thr Va #l Asp Gly Leu Gln Val 185                 1 #90                 1 #95                 2 #00 aca cag ctg aac gtg gac cac acc aca gag aa #c gag gat gag ctc ttc      677 Thr Gln Leu Asn Val Asp His Thr Thr Glu As #n Glu Asp Glu Leu Phe                 205   #               210   #               215 cgt ctt tcg cag ctg ggc ttg gat gct gga aa #g atc aag cag gtg ggg      725 Arg Leu Ser Gln Leu Gly Leu Asp Ala Gly Ly #s Ile Lys Gln Val Gly             220       #           225       #           230 atc atc tgt ggg cag gag agc acc cgg cgg at #c ggg gat tac aag gtt      773 Ile Ile Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Arg Arg Il #e Gly Asp Tyr Lys Val         235           #       240           #       245 aaa tat ggc tac acg gac att gac ctt ctc ag #c gct gcc aag tcc aaa      821 Lys Tyr Gly Tyr Thr Asp Ile Asp Leu Leu Se #r Ala Ala Lys Ser Lys     250               #   255               #   260 cca atc atc gca gag cca gaa atc cat ggg gc #a cag ccg ctg gat ggg      869 Pro Ile Ile Ala Glu Pro Glu Ile His Gly Al #a Gln Pro Leu Asp Gly 265                 2 #70                 2 #75                 2 #80 gtg acg ggc ttc ttg gtg ctg atg tcg gag gg #g ttg tac aag gcc cta      917 Val Thr Gly Phe Leu Val Leu Met Ser Glu Gl #y Leu Tyr Lys Ala Leu                 285   #               290   #               295 gag gca gcc cat ggg cct ggg cag gcc aac ca #g gag att gct gcg atg      965 Glu Ala Ala His Gly Pro Gly Gln Ala Asn Gl #n Glu Ile Ala Ala Met             300       #           305       #           310 att gac act gag ttt gcc aag cag acc tcc ct #g gac gca gtg gcc cag     1013 Ile Asp Thr Glu Phe Ala Lys Gln Thr Ser Le #u Asp Ala Val Ala Gln         315           #       320           #       325 gcc gtc gtg gac cgg gtg aag cgc atc cac ag #c gac acc ttc gcc agt     1061 Ala Val Val Asp Arg Val Lys Arg Ile His Se #r Asp Thr Phe Ala Ser     330               #   335               #   340 ggt ggg gag cgt gcc agg ttc tgc ccc cgg ca #c gag gac atg acc ctg     1109 Gly Gly Glu Arg Ala Arg Phe Cys Pro Arg Hi #s Glu Asp Met Thr Leu 345                 3 #50                 3 #55                 3 #60 cta gtg agg aac ttt ggc tac ccg ctg ggc ga #a atg agc cag ccc aca     1157 Leu Val Arg Asn Phe Gly Tyr Pro Leu Gly Gl #u Met Ser Gln Pro Thr                 365   #               370   #               375 ccg agc cca gcc cca gct gca gga gga cga gt #g tac cct gtg tct gtg     1205 Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Gly Arg Va #l Tyr Pro Val Ser Val             380       #           385       #           390 cca tac tcc agc gcc cag agc acc agc aag ac #c agc gtg acc ctc tcc     1253 Pro Tyr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ser Thr Ser Lys Th #r Ser Val Thr Leu Ser         395           #       400           #       405 ctt gtc atg ccc tcc cag ggc cag atg gtc aa #c ggg gct cac agt gct     1301 Leu Val Met Pro Ser Gln Gly Gln Met Val As #n Gly Ala His Ser Ala     410               #   415               #   420 tcc acc ctg gac gaa gcc acc ccc acc ctc ac #c aac caa agc ccg acc     1349 Ser Thr Leu Asp Glu Ala Thr Pro Thr Leu Th #r Asn Gln Ser Pro Thr 425                 4 #30                 4 #35                 4 #40 tta acc ctg cag tcc acc aac acg cac acg ca #g agc agc agc tcc agc     1397 Leu Thr Leu Gln Ser Thr Asn Thr His Thr Gl #n Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser                 445   #               450   #               455 tct gac gga ggc ctc ttc cgc tcc cgg ccc gc #c cac tcg ctc ccg cct     1445 Ser Asp Gly Gly Leu Phe Arg Ser Arg Pro Al #a His Ser Leu Pro Pro             460       #           465       #           470 ggc gag gac ggt cgt gtt gag ccc tat gtg ga #c ttt gct gag ttt tac     1493 Gly Glu Asp Gly Arg Val Glu Pro Tyr Val As #p Phe Ala Glu Phe Tyr         475           #       480           #       485 cgc ctc tgg agc gtg gac cat ggc gag cag ag #c gtg gtg aca gca ccg     1541 Arg Leu Trp Ser Val Asp His Gly Glu Gln Se #r Val Val Thr Ala Pro     490               #   495               #   500 tagggcagcc ggaggaatg              #                   #                 156 #0 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 504 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 2 Met Ala Ala Gln Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Gln Se #r Glu Gln Gln Pro Ser   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 Trp Thr Asp Asp Leu Pro Leu Cys His Leu Se #r Gly Val Gly Ser Ala              20      #             25      #             30 Ser Asn Arg Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asp Gly Lys Gl #y Thr Glu Ser His Pro          35          #         40          #         45 Pro Glu Asp Ser Trp Leu Lys Phe Arg Ser Gl #u Asn Asn Cys Phe Leu      50              #     55              #     60 Tyr Gly Val Phe Asn Gly Tyr Asp Gly Asn Ar #g Val Thr Asn Phe Val  65                  # 70                  # 75                  # 80 Ala Gln Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu Leu Leu Leu Gl #y Gln Leu Asn Ala Glu                  85  #                 90  #                 95 His Ala Glu Ala Asp Val Arg Arg Val Leu Le #u Gln Ala Phe Asp Val             100       #           105       #           110 Val Glu Arg Ser Phe Leu Glu Ser Ile Asp As #p Ala Leu Ala Glu Lys         115           #       120           #       125 Ala Ser Leu Gln Ser Gln Leu Pro Glu Gly Va #l Pro Gln His Gln Leu     130               #   135               #   140 Pro Pro Gln Tyr Gln Lys Ile Leu Glu Arg Le #u Lys Thr Leu Glu Arg 145                 1 #50                 1 #55                 1 #60 Glu Ile Ser Gly Gly Ala Met Ala Val Val Al #a Val Leu Leu Asn Asn                 165   #               170   #               175 Lys Leu Tyr Val Ala Asn Val Gly Thr Asn Ar #g Ala Leu Leu Cys Lys             180       #           185       #           190 Ser Thr Val Asp Gly Leu Gln Val Thr Gln Le #u Asn Val Asp His Thr         195           #       200           #       205 Thr Glu Asn Glu Asp Glu Leu Phe Arg Leu Se #r Gln Leu Gly Leu Asp     210               #   215               #   220 Ala Gly Lys Ile Lys Gln Val Gly Ile Ile Cy #s Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 225                 2 #30                 2 #35                 2 #40 Arg Arg Ile Gly Asp Tyr Lys Val Lys Tyr Gl #y Tyr Thr Asp Ile Asp                 245   #               250   #               255 Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Lys Pro Ile Il #e Ala Glu Pro Glu Ile             260       #           265       #           270 His Gly Ala Gln Pro Leu Asp Gly Val Thr Gl #y Phe Leu Val Leu Met         275           #       280           #       285 Ser Glu Gly Leu Tyr Lys Ala Leu Glu Ala Al #a His Gly Pro Gly Gln     290               #   295               #   300 Ala Asn Gln Glu Ile Ala Ala Met Ile Asp Th #r Glu Phe Ala Lys Gln 305                 3 #10                 3 #15                 3 #20 Thr Ser Leu Asp Ala Val Ala Gln Ala Val Va #l Asp Arg Val Lys Arg                 325   #               330   #               335 Ile His Ser Asp Thr Phe Ala Ser Gly Gly Gl #u Arg Ala Arg Phe Cys             340       #           345       #           350 Pro Arg His Glu Asp Met Thr Leu Leu Val Ar #g Asn Phe Gly Tyr Pro         355           #       360           #       365 Leu Gly Glu Met Ser Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pr #o Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly     370               #   375               #   380 Gly Arg Val Tyr Pro Val Ser Val Pro Tyr Se #r Ser Ala Gln Ser Thr 385                 3 #90                 3 #95                 4 #00 Ser Lys Thr Ser Val Thr Leu Ser Leu Val Me #t Pro Ser Gln Gly Gln                 405   #               410   #               415 Met Val Asn Gly Ala His Ser Ala Ser Thr Le #u Asp Glu Ala Thr Pro             420       #           425       #           430 Thr Leu Thr Asn Gln Ser Pro Thr Leu Thr Le #u Gln Ser Thr Asn Thr         435           #       440           #       445 His Thr Gln Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Gl #y Gly Leu Phe Arg Ser     450               #   455               #   460 Arg Pro Ala His Ser Leu Pro Pro Gly Glu As #p Gly Arg Val Glu Pro 465                 4 #70                 4 #75                 4 #80 Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Glu Phe Tyr Arg Leu Tr #p Ser Val Asp His Gly                 485   #               490   #               495 Glu Gln Ser Val Val Thr Ala Pro             500 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 2656 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (183)..(1919) <400> SEQUENCE: 3 gtcgagatcc attgtgctct aaagacggct gtggccgctg cctctacccc cg #ccacggat     60 cgccgggtag taggactgcg cggctccagg ctgagggtcg gtccggaggc gg #gtgggcgc    120 gggtctcacc cggattgtcc gggtggcacc gttcccggcc ccaccgggcg cc #gcgaggga    180 tc atg tct aca gcc tct gcc gcc tcc tcc tcc # tcc tcg tct tcg gcc       227    Met Ser Thr Ala Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser  #Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ala      1              #  5                 #  10                 #  15 ggt gag atg atc gaa gcc cct tcc cag gtc ct #c aac ttt gaa gag atc      275 Gly Glu Met Ile Glu Ala Pro Ser Gln Val Le #u Asn Phe Glu Glu Ile                  20  #                 25  #                 30 gac tac aag gag atc gag gtg gaa gag gtt gt #t gga aga gga gcc ttt      323 Asp Tyr Lys Glu Ile Glu Val Glu Glu Val Va #l Gly Arg Gly Ala Phe              35      #             40      #             45 gga gtt gtt tgc aaa gct aag tgg aga gca aa #a gat gtt gct att aaa      371 Gly Val Val Cys Lys Ala Lys Trp Arg Ala Ly #s Asp Val Ala Ile Lys          50          #         55          #         60 caa ata gaa agt gaa tct gag agg aaa gcg tt #t att gta gag ctt cgg      419 Gln Ile Glu Ser Glu Ser Glu Arg Lys Ala Ph #e Ile Val Glu Leu Arg      65              #     70              #     75 cag tta tcc cgt gtg aac cat cct aat att gt #a aag ctt tat gga gcc      467 Gln Leu Ser Arg Val Asn His Pro Asn Ile Va #l Lys Leu Tyr Gly Ala  80                  # 85                  # 90                  # 95 tgc ttg aat cca gtg tgt ctt gtg atg gaa ta #t gct gaa ggg ggc tct      515 Cys Leu Asn Pro Val Cys Leu Val Met Glu Ty #r Ala Glu Gly Gly Ser                 100   #               105   #               110 tta tat aat gtg ctg cat ggt gct gaa cca tt #g cca tat tat act gct      563 Leu Tyr Asn Val Leu His Gly Ala Glu Pro Le #u Pro Tyr Tyr Thr Ala             115       #           120       #           125 gcc cac gca atg agt tgg tgt tta cag tgt tc #c caa gga gtg gct tat      611 Ala His Ala Met Ser Trp Cys Leu Gln Cys Se #r Gln Gly Val Ala Tyr         130           #       135           #       140 ctt cac agc atg caa ccc aaa gcg cta att ca #c agg gac ctg aaa cca      659 Leu His Ser Met Gln Pro Lys Ala Leu Ile Hi #s Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro     145               #   150               #   155 cca aac tta ctg ctg gtt gca ggg ggg aca gt #t cta aaa att tgt gat      707 Pro Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Gly Thr Va #l Leu Lys Ile Cys Asp 160                 1 #65                 1 #70                 1 #75 ttt ggt aca gcc tgt gac att cag aca cac at #g acc aat aac aag ggg      755 Phe Gly Thr Ala Cys Asp Ile Gln Thr His Me #t Thr Asn Asn Lys Gly                 180   #               185   #               190 agt gct gct tgg atg gca cct gaa gtt ttt ga #a ggt agt aat tac agt      803 Ser Ala Ala Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Val Phe Gl #u Gly Ser Asn Tyr Ser             195       #           200       #           205 gaa aaa tgt gac gtc ttc agc tgg ggt att at #t ctt tgg gaa gtg ata      851 Glu Lys Cys Asp Val Phe Ser Trp Gly Ile Il #e Leu Trp Glu Val Ile         210           #       215           #       220 acg cgt cgg aaa ccc ttt gat gag att ggt gg #c cca gct ttc cga atc      899 Thr Arg Arg Lys Pro Phe Asp Glu Ile Gly Gl #y Pro Ala Phe Arg Ile     225               #   230               #   235 atg tgg gct gtt cat aat ggt act cga cca cc #a ctg ata aaa aat tta      947 Met Trp Ala Val His Asn Gly Thr Arg Pro Pr #o Leu Ile Lys Asn Leu 240                 2 #45                 2 #50                 2 #55 cct aag ccc att gag agc ctg atg act cgt tg #t tgg tct aaa gat cct      995 Pro Lys Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Met Thr Arg Cy #s Trp Ser Lys Asp Pro                 260   #               265   #               270 tcc cag cgc cct tca atg gag gaa att gtg aa #a ata atg act cac ttg     1043 Ser Gln Arg Pro Ser Met Glu Glu Ile Val Ly #s Ile Met Thr His Leu             275       #           280       #           285 atg cgg tac ttt cca gga gca gat gag cca tt #a cag tat cct tgt cag     1091 Met Arg Tyr Phe Pro Gly Ala Asp Glu Pro Le #u Gln Tyr Pro Cys Gln         290           #       295           #       300 tat tca gat gaa gga cag agc aac tct gcc ac #c agt aca ggc tca ttc     1139 Tyr Ser Asp Glu Gly Gln Ser Asn Ser Ala Th #r Ser Thr Gly Ser Phe     305               #   310               #   315 atg gac att gct tct aca aat acg agt aac aa #a agt gac act aat atg     1187 Met Asp Ile Ala Ser Thr Asn Thr Ser Asn Ly #s Ser Asp Thr Asn Met 320                 3 #25                 3 #30                 3 #35 gag caa gtt cct gcc aca aat gat act att aa #g cgc tta gaa tca aaa     1235 Glu Gln Val Pro Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Ile Ly #s Arg Leu Glu Ser Lys                 340   #               345   #               350 ttg ttg aaa aat cag gca aag caa cag agt ga #a tct gga cgt tta agc     1283 Leu Leu Lys Asn Gln Ala Lys Gln Gln Ser Gl #u Ser Gly Arg Leu Ser             355       #           360       #           365 ttg gga gcc tcc cat ggg agc agt gtg gag ag #c ttg ccc cca acc tct     1331 Leu Gly Ala Ser His Gly Ser Ser Val Glu Se #r Leu Pro Pro Thr Ser         370           #       375           #       380 gag ggc aag agg atg agt gct gac atg tct ga #a ata gaa gct agg atc     1379 Glu Gly Lys Arg Met Ser Ala Asp Met Ser Gl #u Ile Glu Ala Arg Ile     385               #   390               #   395 gcc gca acc aca ggc aac gga cag cca aga cg #t aga tcc atc caa gac     1427 Ala Ala Thr Thr Gly Asn Gly Gln Pro Arg Ar #g Arg Ser Ile Gln Asp 400                 4 #05                 4 #10                 4 #15 ttg act gta act gga aca gaa cct ggt cag gt #g agc agt agg tca tcc     1475 Leu Thr Val Thr Gly Thr Glu Pro Gly Gln Va #l Ser Ser Arg Ser Ser                 420   #               425   #               430 agt ccc agt gtc aga atg att act acc tca gg #a cca acc tca gaa aag     1523 Ser Pro Ser Val Arg Met Ile Thr Thr Ser Gl #y Pro Thr Ser Glu Lys             435       #           440       #           445 cca act cga agt cat cca tgg acc cct gat ga #t tcc aca gat acc aat     1571 Pro Thr Arg Ser His Pro Trp Thr Pro Asp As #p Ser Thr Asp Thr Asn         450           #       455           #       460 gga tca gat aac tcc atc cca atg gct tat ct #t aca ctg gat cac caa     1619 Gly Ser Asp Asn Ser Ile Pro Met Ala Tyr Le #u Thr Leu Asp His Gln     465               #   470               #   475 cta cag cct cta gca ccg tgc cca aac tcc aa #a gaa tct atg gca gtg     1667 Leu Gln Pro Leu Ala Pro Cys Pro Asn Ser Ly #s Glu Ser Met Ala Val 480                 4 #85                 4 #90                 4 #95 ttt gaa cag cat tgt aaa atg gca caa gaa ta #t atg aaa gtt caa aca     1715 Phe Glu Gln His Cys Lys Met Ala Gln Glu Ty #r Met Lys Val Gln Thr                 500   #               505   #               510 gaa att gca ttg tta tta cag aga aag caa ga #a cta gtt gca gaa ctg     1763 Glu Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Gln Arg Lys Gln Gl #u Leu Val Ala Glu Leu             515       #           520       #           525 gac cag gat gaa aag gac cag caa aat aca tc #t cgc ctg gta cag gaa     1811 Asp Gln Asp Glu Lys Asp Gln Gln Asn Thr Se #r Arg Leu Val Gln Glu         530           #       535           #       540 cat aaa aag ctt tta gat gaa aac aaa agc ct #t tct act tac tac cag     1859 His Lys Lys Leu Leu Asp Glu Asn Lys Ser Le #u Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Gln     545               #   550               #   555 caa tgc aaa aaa caa cta gag gtc atc aga ag #t cag cag cag aaa cga     1907 Gln Cys Lys Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Ile Arg Se #r Gln Gln Gln Lys Arg 560                 5 #65                 5 #70                 5 #75 caa ggc act tca tgattctctg ggaccgttac attttgaaat at #gcaaagaa         1959 Gln Gly Thr Ser agactttttt tttaaggaaa ggaaaacctt ataatgacga ttcatgagtg tt #agcttttt   2019 ggcgtgttct gaatgccaac tgcctatatt tgctgcattt ttttcattgt tt #attttcct   2079 tttctcatgg tggacataca attttactgt ttcattgcat aacatggtag ca #tctgtgac   2139 ttgaatgagc agcactttgc aacttcaaaa cagatgcagt gaactgtggc tg #tatatgca   2199 tgctcattgt gtgaaggcta gcctaacaga acaggaggta tcaaactagc tg #ctatgtgc   2259 aaacagcgtc cattttttca tattagaggt ggaacctcaa gaatgacttt at #tcttgtat   2319 ctcatctcaa aatattaata atttttttcc caaaagatgg tatataccaa gt #taaagaca   2379 gggtattata aatttagagt gattggtggt atattacgga aatacggaac ct #ttagggat   2439 agttccgtgt aagggctttg atgccagcat ccttggatca gtactgaact ca #gttccatc   2499 cgtaaaatat gtaaaggtaa gtggcagctg ctctatttaa tgaaagcagt tt #taccggat   2559 tttgttagac taaaatttga ttgtgataca ttgaacaaaa tggaactcat tt #tttttaag   2619 gagtaaagat tttctttaga gcacaatgga tctcgac       #                   #    2656 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 579 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 4 Met Ser Thr Ala Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser Ser Se #r Ser Ser Ser Ala Gly   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 Glu Met Ile Glu Ala Pro Ser Gln Val Leu As #n Phe Glu Glu Ile Asp              20      #             25      #             30 Tyr Lys Glu Ile Glu Val Glu Glu Val Val Gl #y Arg Gly Ala Phe Gly          35          #         40          #         45 Val Val Cys Lys Ala Lys Trp Arg Ala Lys As #p Val Ala Ile Lys Gln      50              #     55              #     60 Ile Glu Ser Glu Ser Glu Arg Lys Ala Phe Il #e Val Glu Leu Arg Gln  65                  # 70                  # 75                  # 80 Leu Ser Arg Val Asn His Pro Asn Ile Val Ly #s Leu Tyr Gly Ala Cys                  85  #                 90  #                 95 Leu Asn Pro Val Cys Leu Val Met Glu Tyr Al #a Glu Gly Gly Ser Leu             100       #           105       #           110 Tyr Asn Val Leu His Gly Ala Glu Pro Leu Pr #o Tyr Tyr Thr Ala Ala         115           #       120           #       125 His Ala Met Ser Trp Cys Leu Gln Cys Ser Gl #n Gly Val Ala Tyr Leu     130               #   135               #   140 His Ser Met Gln Pro Lys Ala Leu Ile His Ar #g Asp Leu Lys Pro Pro 145                 1 #50                 1 #55                 1 #60 Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Gly Thr Val Le #u Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe                 165   #               170   #               175 Gly Thr Ala Cys Asp Ile Gln Thr His Met Th #r Asn Asn Lys Gly Ser             180       #           185       #           190 Ala Ala Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Val Phe Glu Gl #y Ser Asn Tyr Ser Glu         195           #       200           #       205 Lys Cys Asp Val Phe Ser Trp Gly Ile Ile Le #u Trp Glu Val Ile Thr     210               #   215               #   220 Arg Arg Lys Pro Phe Asp Glu Ile Gly Gly Pr #o Ala Phe Arg Ile Met 225                 2 #30                 2 #35                 2 #40 Trp Ala Val His Asn Gly Thr Arg Pro Pro Le #u Ile Lys Asn Leu Pro                 245   #               250   #               255 Lys Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Met Thr Arg Cys Tr #p Ser Lys Asp Pro Ser             260       #           265       #           270 Gln Arg Pro Ser Met Glu Glu Ile Val Lys Il #e Met Thr His Leu Met         275           #       280           #       285 Arg Tyr Phe Pro Gly Ala Asp Glu Pro Leu Gl #n Tyr Pro Cys Gln Tyr     290               #   295               #   300 Ser Asp Glu Gly Gln Ser Asn Ser Ala Thr Se #r Thr Gly Ser Phe Met 305                 3 #10                 3 #15                 3 #20 Asp Ile Ala Ser Thr Asn Thr Ser Asn Lys Se #r Asp Thr Asn Met Glu                 325   #               330   #               335 Gln Val Pro Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Ile Lys Ar #g Leu Glu Ser Lys Leu             340       #           345       #           350 Leu Lys Asn Gln Ala Lys Gln Gln Ser Glu Se #r Gly Arg Leu Ser Leu         355           #       360           #       365 Gly Ala Ser His Gly Ser Ser Val Glu Ser Le #u Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu     370               #   375               #   380 Gly Lys Arg Met Ser Ala Asp Met Ser Glu Il #e Glu Ala Arg Ile Ala 385                 3 #90                 3 #95                 4 #00 Ala Thr Thr Gly Asn Gly Gln Pro Arg Arg Ar #g Ser Ile Gln Asp Leu                 405   #               410   #               415 Thr Val Thr Gly Thr Glu Pro Gly Gln Val Se #r Ser Arg Ser Ser Ser             420       #           425       #           430 Pro Ser Val Arg Met Ile Thr Thr Ser Gly Pr #o Thr Ser Glu Lys Pro         435           #       440           #       445 Thr Arg Ser His Pro Trp Thr Pro Asp Asp Se #r Thr Asp Thr Asn Gly     450               #   455               #   460 Ser Asp Asn Ser Ile Pro Met Ala Tyr Leu Th #r Leu Asp His Gln Leu 465                 4 #70                 4 #75                 4 #80 Gln Pro Leu Ala Pro Cys Pro Asn Ser Lys Gl #u Ser Met Ala Val Phe                 485   #               490   #               495 Glu Gln His Cys Lys Met Ala Gln Glu Tyr Me #t Lys Val Gln Thr Glu             500       #           505       #           510 Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Gln Arg Lys Gln Glu Le #u Val Ala Glu Leu Asp         515           #       520           #       525 Gln Asp Glu Lys Asp Gln Gln Asn Thr Ser Ar #g Leu Val Gln Glu His     530               #   535               #   540 Lys Lys Leu Leu Asp Glu Asn Lys Ser Leu Se #r Thr Tyr Tyr Gln Gln 545                 5 #50                 5 #55                 5 #60 Cys Lys Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Ile Arg Ser Gl #n Gln Gln Lys Arg Gln                 565   #               570   #               575 Gly Thr Ser <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 8 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       peptide <400> SEQUENCE: 5 Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys   1               5 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 6 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       peptide <400> SEQUENCE: 6 His His His His His His   1               5 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 7 ccggaattca tggcggcgca gaggagg           #                   #             27 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 72 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 8 agctctagat cattatttat cgtcatcgtc tttgtagtca gaacctccgg ta #cccggtgc     60 tgtcaccacg ct               #                   #                   #       72 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 5 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       peptide <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Partial sequence of TAB  #1 polypeptide <400> SEQUENCE: 9 Gly Thr Gly Gly Ser   1               5 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 1569 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (7)..(1557) <400> SEQUENCE: 10 gaattc atg gcg gcg cag agg agg agc ttg ctg  #cag agt gag cag cag        48        Met Ala Ala Gln Arg Arg Se #r Leu Leu Gln Ser Glu Gln Gln          1          #      5             #      10 cca agc tgg aca gat gac ctg cct ctc tgc ca #c ctc tct ggg gtt ggc       96 Pro Ser Trp Thr Asp Asp Leu Pro Leu Cys Hi #s Leu Ser Gly Val Gly  15                  # 20                  # 25                  # 30 tca gcc tcc aac cgc agc tac tct gct gat gg #c aag ggc act gag agc      144 Ser Ala Ser Asn Arg Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asp Gl #y Lys Gly Thr Glu Ser                  35  #                 40  #                 45 cac ccg cca gag gac agc tgg ctc aag ttc ag #g agt gag aac aac tgc      192 His Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser Trp Leu Lys Phe Ar #g Ser Glu Asn Asn Cys              50      #             55      #             60 ttc ctg tat ggg gtc ttc aac ggc tat gat gg #c aac cga gtg acc aac      240 Phe Leu Tyr Gly Val Phe Asn Gly Tyr Asp Gl #y Asn Arg Val Thr Asn          65          #         70          #         75 ttc gtg gcc cag cgg ctg tcc gca gag ctc ct #g ctg ggc cag ctg aat      288 Phe Val Ala Gln Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu Leu Le #u Leu Gly Gln Leu Asn      80              #     85              #     90 gcc gag cac gcc gag gcc gat gtg cgg cgt gt #g ctg ctg cag gcc ttc      336 Ala Glu His Ala Glu Ala Asp Val Arg Arg Va #l Leu Leu Gln Ala Phe  95                  #100                  #105                  #110 gat gtg gtg gag agg agc ttc ctg gag tcc at #t gac gac gcc ttg gct      384 Asp Val Val Glu Arg Ser Phe Leu Glu Ser Il #e Asp Asp Ala Leu Ala                 115   #               120   #               125 gag aag gca agc ctc cag tcg caa ttg cca ga #g gga gtc cct cag cac      432 Glu Lys Ala Ser Leu Gln Ser Gln Leu Pro Gl #u Gly Val Pro Gln His             130       #           135       #           140 cag ctg cct cct cag tat cag aag atc ctt ga #g aga ctc aag acg tta      480 Gln Leu Pro Pro Gln Tyr Gln Lys Ile Leu Gl #u Arg Leu Lys Thr Leu         145           #       150           #       155 gag agg gaa att tcg gga ggg gcc atg gcc gt #t gtg gcg gtc ctt ctc      528 Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Gly Gly Ala Met Ala Va #l Val Ala Val Leu Leu     160               #   165               #   170 aac aac aag ctc tac gtc gcc aat gtc ggt ac #a aac cgt gca ctt tta      576 Asn Asn Lys Leu Tyr Val Ala Asn Val Gly Th #r Asn Arg Ala Leu Leu 175                 1 #80                 1 #85                 1 #90 tgc aaa tcg aca gtg gat ggg ttg cag gtg ac #a cag ctg aac gtg gac      624 Cys Lys Ser Thr Val Asp Gly Leu Gln Val Th #r Gln Leu Asn Val Asp                 195   #               200   #               205 cac acc aca gag aac gag gat gag ctc ttc cg #t ctt tcg cag ctg ggc      672 His Thr Thr Glu Asn Glu Asp Glu Leu Phe Ar #g Leu Ser Gln Leu Gly             210       #           215       #           220 ttg gat gct gga aag atc aag cag gtg ggg at #c atc tgt ggg cag gag      720 Leu Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Lys Gln Val Gly Il #e Ile Cys Gly Gln Glu         225           #       230           #       235 agc acc cgg cgg atc ggg gat tac aag gtt aa #a tat ggc tac acg gac      768 Ser Thr Arg Arg Ile Gly Asp Tyr Lys Val Ly #s Tyr Gly Tyr Thr Asp     240               #   245               #   250 att gac ctt ctc agc gct gcc aag tcc aaa cc #a atc atc gca gag cca      816 Ile Asp Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Lys Pr #o Ile Ile Ala Glu Pro 255                 2 #60                 2 #65                 2 #70 gaa atc cat ggg gca cag ccg ctg gat ggg gt #g acg ggc ttc ttg gtg      864 Glu Ile His Gly Ala Gln Pro Leu Asp Gly Va #l Thr Gly Phe Leu Val                 275   #               280   #               285 ctg atg tcg gag ggg ttg tac aag gcc cta ga #g gca gcc cat ggg cct      912 Leu Met Ser Glu Gly Leu Tyr Lys Ala Leu Gl #u Ala Ala His Gly Pro             290       #           295       #           300 ggg cag gcc aac cag gag att gct gcg atg at #t gac act gag ttt gcc      960 Gly Gln Ala Asn Gln Glu Ile Ala Ala Met Il #e Asp Thr Glu Phe Ala         305           #       310           #       315 aag cag acc tcc ctg gac gca gtg gcc cag gc #c gtc gtg gac cgg gtg     1008 Lys Gln Thr Ser Leu Asp Ala Val Ala Gln Al #a Val Val Asp Arg Val     320               #   325               #   330 aag cgc atc cac agc gac acc ttc gcc agt gg #t ggg gag cgt gcc agg     1056 Lys Arg Ile His Ser Asp Thr Phe Ala Ser Gl #y Gly Glu Arg Ala Arg 335                 3 #40                 3 #45                 3 #50 ttc tgc ccc cgg cac gag gac atg acc ctg ct #a gtg agg aac ttt ggc     1104 Phe Cys Pro Arg His Glu Asp Met Thr Leu Le #u Val Arg Asn Phe Gly                 355   #               360   #               365 tac ccg ctg ggc gaa atg agc cag ccc aca cc #g agc cca gcc cca gct     1152 Tyr Pro Leu Gly Glu Met Ser Gln Pro Thr Pr #o Ser Pro Ala Pro Ala             370       #           375       #           380 gca gga gga cga gtg tac cct gtg tct gtg cc #a tac tcc agc gcc cag     1200 Ala Gly Gly Arg Val Tyr Pro Val Ser Val Pr #o Tyr Ser Ser Ala Gln         385           #       390           #       395 agc acc agc aag acc agc gtg acc ctc tcc ct #t gtc atg ccc tcc cag     1248 Ser Thr Ser Lys Thr Ser Val Thr Leu Ser Le #u Val Met Pro Ser Gln     400               #   405               #   410 ggc cag atg gtc aac ggg gct cac agt gct tc #c acc ctg gac gaa gcc     1296 Gly Gln Met Val Asn Gly Ala His Ser Ala Se #r Thr Leu Asp Glu Ala 415                 4 #20                 4 #25                 4 #30 acc ccc acc ctc acc aac caa agc ccg acc tt #a acc ctg cag tcc acc     1344 Thr Pro Thr Leu Thr Asn Gln Ser Pro Thr Le #u Thr Leu Gln Ser Thr                 435   #               440   #               445 aac acg cac acg cag agc agc agc tcc agc tc #t gac gga ggc ctc ttc     1392 Asn Thr His Thr Gln Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Se #r Asp Gly Gly Leu Phe             450       #           455       #           460 cgc tcc cgg ccc gcc cac tcg ctc ccg cct gg #c gag gac ggt cgt gtt     1440 Arg Ser Arg Pro Ala His Ser Leu Pro Pro Gl #y Glu Asp Gly Arg Val         465           #       470           #       475 gag ccc tat gtg gac ttt gct gag ttt tac cg #c ctc tgg agc gtg gac     1488 Glu Pro Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Glu Phe Tyr Ar #g Leu Trp Ser Val Asp     480               #   485               #   490 cat ggc gag cag agc gtg gtg aca gca ccg gg #t acc gga ggt tct gac     1536 His Gly Glu Gln Ser Val Val Thr Ala Pro Gl #y Thr Gly Gly Ser Asp 495                 5 #00                 5 #05                 5 #10 tac aaa gac gat gac gat aaa taatgatcta ga   #                   #       1569 Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys                 515 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 517 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 11 Met Ala Ala Gln Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Gln Se #r Glu Gln Gln Pro Ser   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 Trp Thr Asp Asp Leu Pro Leu Cys His Leu Se #r Gly Val Gly Ser Ala              20      #             25      #             30 Ser Asn Arg Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asp Gly Lys Gl #y Thr Glu Ser His Pro          35          #         40          #         45 Pro Glu Asp Ser Trp Leu Lys Phe Arg Ser Gl #u Asn Asn Cys Phe Leu      50              #     55              #     60 Tyr Gly Val Phe Asn Gly Tyr Asp Gly Asn Ar #g Val Thr Asn Phe Val  65                  # 70                  # 75                  # 80 Ala Gln Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu Leu Leu Leu Gl #y Gln Leu Asn Ala Glu                  85  #                 90  #                 95 His Ala Glu Ala Asp Val Arg Arg Val Leu Le #u Gln Ala Phe Asp Val             100       #           105       #           110 Val Glu Arg Ser Phe Leu Glu Ser Ile Asp As #p Ala Leu Ala Glu Lys         115           #       120           #       125 Ala Ser Leu Gln Ser Gln Leu Pro Glu Gly Va #l Pro Gln His Gln Leu     130               #   135               #   140 Pro Pro Gln Tyr Gln Lys Ile Leu Glu Arg Le #u Lys Thr Leu Glu Arg 145                 1 #50                 1 #55                 1 #60 Glu Ile Ser Gly Gly Ala Met Ala Val Val Al #a Val Leu Leu Asn Asn                 165   #               170   #               175 Lys Leu Tyr Val Ala Asn Val Gly Thr Asn Ar #g Ala Leu Leu Cys Lys             180       #           185       #           190 Ser Thr Val Asp Gly Leu Gln Val Thr Gln Le #u Asn Val Asp His Thr         195           #       200           #       205 Thr Glu Asn Glu Asp Glu Leu Phe Arg Leu Se #r Gln Leu Gly Leu Asp     210               #   215               #   220 Ala Gly Lys Ile Lys Gln Val Gly Ile Ile Cy #s Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 225                 2 #30                 2 #35                 2 #40 Arg Arg Ile Gly Asp Tyr Lys Val Lys Tyr Gl #y Tyr Thr Asp Ile Asp                 245   #               250   #               255 Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser Lys Pro Ile Il #e Ala Glu Pro Glu Ile             260       #           265       #           270 His Gly Ala Gln Pro Leu Asp Gly Val Thr Gl #y Phe Leu Val Leu Met         275           #       280           #       285 Ser Glu Gly Leu Tyr Lys Ala Leu Glu Ala Al #a His Gly Pro Gly Gln     290               #   295               #   300 Ala Asn Gln Glu Ile Ala Ala Met Ile Asp Th #r Glu Phe Ala Lys Gln 305                 3 #10                 3 #15                 3 #20 Thr Ser Leu Asp Ala Val Ala Gln Ala Val Va #l Asp Arg Val Lys Arg                 325   #               330   #               335 Ile His Ser Asp Thr Phe Ala Ser Gly Gly Gl #u Arg Ala Arg Phe Cys             340       #           345       #           350 Pro Arg His Glu Asp Met Thr Leu Leu Val Ar #g Asn Phe Gly Tyr Pro         355           #       360           #       365 Leu Gly Glu Met Ser Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pr #o Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly     370               #   375               #   380 Gly Arg Val Tyr Pro Val Ser Val Pro Tyr Se #r Ser Ala Gln Ser Thr 385                 3 #90                 3 #95                 4 #00 Ser Lys Thr Ser Val Thr Leu Ser Leu Val Me #t Pro Ser Gln Gly Gln                 405   #               410   #               415 Met Val Asn Gly Ala His Ser Ala Ser Thr Le #u Asp Glu Ala Thr Pro             420       #           425       #           430 Thr Leu Thr Asn Gln Ser Pro Thr Leu Thr Le #u Gln Ser Thr Asn Thr         435           #       440           #       445 His Thr Gln Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Gl #y Gly Leu Phe Arg Ser     450               #   455               #   460 Arg Pro Ala His Ser Leu Pro Pro Gly Glu As #p Gly Arg Val Glu Pro 465                 4 #70                 4 #75                 4 #80 Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Glu Phe Tyr Arg Leu Tr #p Ser Val Asp His Gly                 485   #               490   #               495 Glu Gln Ser Val Val Thr Ala Pro Gly Thr Gl #y Gly Ser Asp Tyr Lys             500       #           505       #           510 Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys         515 <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 12 ccggaattca tgtctacagc ctctgcc           #                   #             27 <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 66 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 13 agctctagat cattagtgat ggtgatggtg atgagatcca ccggtacctg aa #gtgccttg     60 tcgttt                  #                   #                   #           66 <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 1788 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (7)..(1776) <400> SEQUENCE: 14 gaattc atg tct aca gcc tct gcc gcc tcc tcc  #tcc tcc tcg tct tcg        48        Met Ser Thr Ala Ser Ala Al #a Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser          1          #      5             #      10 gcc ggt gag atg atc gaa gcc cct tcc cag gt #c ctc aac ttt gaa gag       96 Ala Gly Glu Met Ile Glu Ala Pro Ser Gln Va #l Leu Asn Phe Glu Glu  15                  # 20                  # 25                  # 30 atc gac tac aag gag atc gag gtg gaa gag gt #t gtt gga aga gga gcc      144 Ile Asp Tyr Lys Glu Ile Glu Val Glu Glu Va #l Val Gly Arg Gly Ala                  35  #                 40  #                 45 ttt gga gtt gtt tgc aaa gct aag tgg aga gc #a aaa gat gtt gct att      192 Phe Gly Val Val Cys Lys Ala Lys Trp Arg Al #a Lys Asp Val Ala Ile              50      #             55      #             60 aaa caa ata gaa agt gaa tct gag agg aaa gc #g ttt att gta gag ctt      240 Lys Gln Ile Glu Ser Glu Ser Glu Arg Lys Al #a Phe Ile Val Glu Leu          65          #         70          #         75 cgg cag tta tcc cgt gtg aac cat cct aat at #t gta aag ctt tat gga      288 Arg Gln Leu Ser Arg Val Asn His Pro Asn Il #e Val Lys Leu Tyr Gly      80              #     85              #     90 gcc tgc ttg aat cca gtg tgt ctt gtg atg ga #a tat gct gaa ggg ggc      336 Ala Cys Leu Asn Pro Val Cys Leu Val Met Gl #u Tyr Ala Glu Gly Gly  95                  #100                  #105                  #110 tct tta tat aat gtg ctg cat ggt gct gaa cc #a ttg cca tat tat act      384 Ser Leu Tyr Asn Val Leu His Gly Ala Glu Pr #o Leu Pro Tyr Tyr Thr                 115   #               120   #               125 gct gcc cac gca atg agt tgg tgt tta cag tg #t tcc caa gga gtg gct      432 Ala Ala His Ala Met Ser Trp Cys Leu Gln Cy #s Ser Gln Gly Val Ala             130       #           135       #           140 tat ctt cac agc atg caa ccc aaa gcg cta at #t cac agg gac ctg aaa      480 Tyr Leu His Ser Met Gln Pro Lys Ala Leu Il #e His Arg Asp Leu Lys         145           #       150           #       155 cca cca aac tta ctg ctg gtt gca ggg ggg ac #a gtt cta aaa att tgt      528 Pro Pro Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Gly Th #r Val Leu Lys Ile Cys     160               #   165               #   170 gat ttt ggt aca gcc tgt gac att cag aca ca #c atg acc aat aac aag      576 Asp Phe Gly Thr Ala Cys Asp Ile Gln Thr Hi #s Met Thr Asn Asn Lys 175                 1 #80                 1 #85                 1 #90 ggg agt gct gct tgg atg gca cct gaa gtt tt #t gaa ggt agt aat tac      624 Gly Ser Ala Ala Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Val Ph #e Glu Gly Ser Asn Tyr                 195   #               200   #               205 agt gaa aaa tgt gac gtc ttc agc tgg ggt at #t att ctt tgg gaa gtg      672 Ser Glu Lys Cys Asp Val Phe Ser Trp Gly Il #e Ile Leu Trp Glu Val             210       #           215       #           220 ata acg cgt cgg aaa ccc ttt gat gag att gg #t ggc cca gct ttc cga      720 Ile Thr Arg Arg Lys Pro Phe Asp Glu Ile Gl #y Gly Pro Ala Phe Arg         225           #       230           #       235 atc atg tgg gct gtt cat aat ggt act cga cc #a cca ctg ata aaa aat      768 Ile Met Trp Ala Val His Asn Gly Thr Arg Pr #o Pro Leu Ile Lys Asn     240               #   245               #   250 tta cct aag ccc att gag agc ctg atg act cg #t tgt tgg tct aaa gat      816 Leu Pro Lys Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Met Thr Ar #g Cys Trp Ser Lys Asp 255                 2 #60                 2 #65                 2 #70 cct tcc cag cgc cct tca atg gag gaa att gt #g aaa ata atg act cac      864 Pro Ser Gln Arg Pro Ser Met Glu Glu Ile Va #l Lys Ile Met Thr His                 275   #               280   #               285 ttg atg cgg tac ttt cca gga gca gat gag cc #a tta cag tat cct tgt      912 Leu Met Arg Tyr Phe Pro Gly Ala Asp Glu Pr #o Leu Gln Tyr Pro Cys             290       #           295       #           300 cag tat tca gat gaa gga cag agc aac tct gc #c acc agt aca ggc tca      960 Gln Tyr Ser Asp Glu Gly Gln Ser Asn Ser Al #a Thr Ser Thr Gly Ser         305           #       310           #       315 ttc atg gac att gct tct aca aat acg agt aa #c aaa agt gac act aat     1008 Phe Met Asp Ile Ala Ser Thr Asn Thr Ser As #n Lys Ser Asp Thr Asn     320               #   325               #   330 atg gag caa gtt cct gcc aca aat gat act at #t aag cgc tta gaa tca     1056 Met Glu Gln Val Pro Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Il #e Lys Arg Leu Glu Ser 335                 3 #40                 3 #45                 3 #50 aaa ttg ttg aaa aat cag gca aag caa cag ag #t gaa tct gga cgt tta     1104 Lys Leu Leu Lys Asn Gln Ala Lys Gln Gln Se #r Glu Ser Gly Arg Leu                 355   #               360   #               365 agc ttg gga gcc tcc cat ggg agc agt gtg ga #g agc ttg ccc cca acc     1152 Ser Leu Gly Ala Ser His Gly Ser Ser Val Gl #u Ser Leu Pro Pro Thr             370       #           375       #           380 tct gag ggc aag agg atg agt gct gac atg tc #t gaa ata gaa gct agg     1200 Ser Glu Gly Lys Arg Met Ser Ala Asp Met Se #r Glu Ile Glu Ala Arg         385           #       390           #       395 atc gcc gca acc aca ggc aac gga cag cca ag #a cgt aga tcc atc caa     1248 Ile Ala Ala Thr Thr Gly Asn Gly Gln Pro Ar #g Arg Arg Ser Ile Gln     400               #   405               #   410 gac ttg act gta act gga aca gaa cct ggt ca #g gtg agc agt agg tca     1296 Asp Leu Thr Val Thr Gly Thr Glu Pro Gly Gl #n Val Ser Ser Arg Ser 415                 4 #20                 4 #25                 4 #30 tcc agt ccc agt gtc aga atg att act acc tc #a gga cca acc tca gaa     1344 Ser Ser Pro Ser Val Arg Met Ile Thr Thr Se #r Gly Pro Thr Ser Glu                 435   #               440   #               445 aag cca act cga agt cat cca tgg acc cct ga #t gat tcc aca gat acc     1392 Lys Pro Thr Arg Ser His Pro Trp Thr Pro As #p Asp Ser Thr Asp Thr             450       #           455       #           460 aat gga tca gat aac tcc atc cca atg gct ta #t ctt aca ctg gat cac     1440 Asn Gly Ser Asp Asn Ser Ile Pro Met Ala Ty #r Leu Thr Leu Asp His         465           #       470           #       475 caa cta cag cct cta gca ccg tgc cca aac tc #c aaa gaa tct atg gca     1488 Gln Leu Gln Pro Leu Ala Pro Cys Pro Asn Se #r Lys Glu Ser Met Ala     480               #   485               #   490 gtg ttt gaa cag cat tgt aaa atg gca caa ga #a tat atg aaa gtt caa     1536 Val Phe Glu Gln His Cys Lys Met Ala Gln Gl #u Tyr Met Lys Val Gln 495                 5 #00                 5 #05                 5 #10 aca gaa att gca ttg tta tta cag aga aag ca #a gaa cta gtt gca gaa     1584 Thr Glu Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Gln Arg Lys Gl #n Glu Leu Val Ala Glu                 515   #               520   #               525 ctg gac cag gat gaa aag gac cag caa aat ac #a tct cgc ctg gta cag     1632 Leu Asp Gln Asp Glu Lys Asp Gln Gln Asn Th #r Ser Arg Leu Val Gln             530       #           535       #           540 gaa cat aaa aag ctt tta gat gaa aac aaa ag #c ctt tct act tac tac     1680 Glu His Lys Lys Leu Leu Asp Glu Asn Lys Se #r Leu Ser Thr Tyr Tyr         545           #       550           #       555 cag caa tgc aaa aaa caa cta gag gtc atc ag #a agt cag cag cag aaa     1728 Gln Gln Cys Lys Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Ile Ar #g Ser Gln Gln Gln Lys     560               #   565               #   570 cga caa ggc act tca ggt acc ggt gga tct ca #t cac cat cac cat cac     1776 Arg Gln Gly Thr Ser Gly Thr Gly Gly Ser Hi #s His His His His His 575                 5 #80                 5 #85                 5 #90 taatgatcta ga               #                   #                   #     1788 <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 590 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 15 Met Ser Thr Ala Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser Ser Se #r Ser Ser Ser Ala Gly   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 Glu Met Ile Glu Ala Pro Ser Gln Val Leu As #n Phe Glu Glu Ile Asp              20      #             25      #             30 Tyr Lys Glu Ile Glu Val Glu Glu Val Val Gl #y Arg Gly Ala Phe Gly          35          #         40          #         45 Val Val Cys Lys Ala Lys Trp Arg Ala Lys As #p Val Ala Ile Lys Gln      50              #     55              #     60 Ile Glu Ser Glu Ser Glu Arg Lys Ala Phe Il #e Val Glu Leu Arg Gln  65                  # 70                  # 75                  # 80 Leu Ser Arg Val Asn His Pro Asn Ile Val Ly #s Leu Tyr Gly Ala Cys                  85  #                 90  #                 95 Leu Asn Pro Val Cys Leu Val Met Glu Tyr Al #a Glu Gly Gly Ser Leu             100       #           105       #           110 Tyr Asn Val Leu His Gly Ala Glu Pro Leu Pr #o Tyr Tyr Thr Ala Ala         115           #       120           #       125 His Ala Met Ser Trp Cys Leu Gln Cys Ser Gl #n Gly Val Ala Tyr Leu     130               #   135               #   140 His Ser Met Gln Pro Lys Ala Leu Ile His Ar #g Asp Leu Lys Pro Pro 145                 1 #50                 1 #55                 1 #60 Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Gly Thr Val Le #u Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe                 165   #               170   #               175 Gly Thr Ala Cys Asp Ile Gln Thr His Met Th #r Asn Asn Lys Gly Ser             180       #           185       #           190 Ala Ala Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Val Phe Glu Gl #y Ser Asn Tyr Ser Glu         195           #       200           #       205 Lys Cys Asp Val Phe Ser Trp Gly Ile Ile Le #u Trp Glu Val Ile Thr     210               #   215               #   220 Arg Arg Lys Pro Phe Asp Glu Ile Gly Gly Pr #o Ala Phe Arg Ile Met 225                 2 #30                 2 #35                 2 #40 Trp Ala Val His Asn Gly Thr Arg Pro Pro Le #u Ile Lys Asn Leu Pro                 245   #               250   #               255 Lys Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Met Thr Arg Cys Tr #p Ser Lys Asp Pro Ser             260       #           265       #           270 Gln Arg Pro Ser Met Glu Glu Ile Val Lys Il #e Met Thr His Leu Met         275           #       280           #       285 Arg Tyr Phe Pro Gly Ala Asp Glu Pro Leu Gl #n Tyr Pro Cys Gln Tyr     290               #   295               #   300 Ser Asp Glu Gly Gln Ser Asn Ser Ala Thr Se #r Thr Gly Ser Phe Met 305                 3 #10                 3 #15                 3 #20 Asp Ile Ala Ser Thr Asn Thr Ser Asn Lys Se #r Asp Thr Asn Met Glu                 325   #               330   #               335 Gln Val Pro Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Ile Lys Ar #g Leu Glu Ser Lys Leu             340       #           345       #           350 Leu Lys Asn Gln Ala Lys Gln Gln Ser Glu Se #r Gly Arg Leu Ser Leu         355           #       360           #       365 Gly Ala Ser His Gly Ser Ser Val Glu Ser Le #u Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu     370               #   375               #   380 Gly Lys Arg Met Ser Ala Asp Met Ser Glu Il #e Glu Ala Arg Ile Ala 385                 3 #90                 3 #95                 4 #00 Ala Thr Thr Gly Asn Gly Gln Pro Arg Arg Ar #g Ser Ile Gln Asp Leu                 405   #               410   #               415 Thr Val Thr Gly Thr Glu Pro Gly Gln Val Se #r Ser Arg Ser Ser Ser             420       #           425       #           430 Pro Ser Val Arg Met Ile Thr Thr Ser Gly Pr #o Thr Ser Glu Lys Pro         435           #       440           #       445 Thr Arg Ser His Pro Trp Thr Pro Asp Asp Se #r Thr Asp Thr Asn Gly     450               #   455               #   460 Ser Asp Asn Ser Ile Pro Met Ala Tyr Leu Th #r Leu Asp His Gln Leu 465                 4 #70                 4 #75                 4 #80 Gln Pro Leu Ala Pro Cys Pro Asn Ser Lys Gl #u Ser Met Ala Val Phe                 485   #               490   #               495 Glu Gln His Cys Lys Met Ala Gln Glu Tyr Me #t Lys Val Gln Thr Glu             500       #           505       #           510 Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Gln Arg Lys Gln Glu Le #u Val Ala Glu Leu Asp         515           #       520           #       525 Gln Asp Glu Lys Asp Gln Gln Asn Thr Ser Ar #g Leu Val Gln Glu His     530               #   535               #   540 Lys Lys Leu Leu Asp Glu Asn Lys Ser Leu Se #r Thr Tyr Tyr Gln Gln 545                 5 #50                 5 #55                 5 #60 Cys Lys Lys Gln Leu Glu Val Ile Arg Ser Gl #n Gln Gln Lys Arg Gln                 565   #               570   #               575 Gly Thr Ser Gly Thr Gly Gly Ser His His Hi #s His His His             580       #           585       #           590 <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 41 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 16 ttctgaaggg cttccaccct ggacgaagcc acccccaccc t     #                   #   41 <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 69 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 17 tataagcttt tattatttat cgtcatcgtc tttgtagtcc ggtgctgtca cc #acgctctg     60 ctcgccatg                 #                   #                   #         69 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 34 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 18 ccggaattcc accatggagc ttcggcagtt atcc        #                   #        34 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 28 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 19 ccggaattcc tactgacaag gatactgt          #                   #             28 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 19 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 20 tcttcagctg gggtattat              #                   #                   # 19 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 20 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 21 gctttatttc catgctgggc             #                   #                   # 20 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 27 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 22 cggaattcga gctccggcag tgtcgcg           #                   #             27 <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 30 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 23 aactgcaggc tactgacaag gatactgtaa          #                   #           30 <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 24 ccgctcgagg aggcctcttc cgctcccggc c         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 35 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 25 ccgaattcct attacggtgc tgtcaccacg ctctg        #                   #       35 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 26 ccgctcgagg accctatgtg gactttgctg a         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 27 ccgctcgagg atatgtggac tttgctgagt t         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 28 ccgctcgagg agtggacttt gctgagtttt a         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 29 ccgctcgagg agactttgct gagttttacc g         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 30 ccgctcgagg atttgctgag ttttaccgcc t         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 31 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 31 ccgctcgagg agctgagttt taccgcctct g         #                   #          31 <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 38 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 32 ccgaattcct attagaggcg gtaaaactca gcaaagtc       #                   #     38 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 35 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 33 ccgaattcct attaagcaaa gtccacatag ggctc        #                   #       35 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 34 ccgaattcct attaaaagtc cacatagggc tc        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 35 ccgaattcct attagtccac atagggctca ac        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 36 ccgaattcct attacacata gggctcaaca cg        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 37 ccgaattcct attaataggg ctcaacacga cc        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 38 ccgaattcct attagggctc aacacgaccg tc        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 39 ccgaattcct attactcaac acgaccgtcc tc        #                   #          32 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 16 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       peptide <400> SEQUENCE: 40 Cys Val Glu Pro Tyr Val Asp Phe Ala Glu Ph #e Tyr Arg Gly Arg Lys   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 16 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       peptide <400> SEQUENCE: 41 Cys Gln Ser Pro Thr Leu Thr Leu Gln Ser Th #r Asn Thr His Thr Gln   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 <210> SEQ ID NO 42 <211> LENGTH: 1568 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (11)..(1549) <400> SEQUENCE: 42 gaattccacc atg gac tac aag gat gac gac gac aa #g atg gcg gcg cag        49            Met Asp Tyr Lys  #Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Met Ala Ala Gln              1      #          5         #          10 agg agg agc ttg ctg cag agt gag cag cag cc #a agc tgg aca gat gac       97 Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Gln Ser Glu Gln Gln Pr #o Ser Trp Thr Asp Asp      15              #     20              #     25 ctg cct ctc tgc cac ctc tct ggg gtt ggc tc #a gcc tcc aac cgc agc      145 Leu Pro Leu Cys His Leu Ser Gly Val Gly Se #r Ala Ser Asn Arg Ser  30                  # 35                  # 40                  # 45 tac tct gct gat ggc aag ggc act gag agc ca #c ccg cca gag gac agc      193 Tyr Ser Ala Asp Gly Lys Gly Thr Glu Ser Hi #s Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser                  50  #                 55  #                 60 tgg ctc aag ttc agg agt gag aac aac tgc tt #c ctg tat ggg gtc ttc      241 Trp Leu Lys Phe Arg Ser Glu Asn Asn Cys Ph #e Leu Tyr Gly Val Phe              65      #             70      #             75 aac ggc tat gat ggc aac cga gtg acc aac tt #c gtg gcc cag cgg ctg      289 Asn Gly Tyr Asp Gly Asn Arg Val Thr Asn Ph #e Val Ala Gln Arg Leu          80          #         85          #         90 tcc gca gag ctc ctg ctg ggc cag ctg aat gc #c gag cac gcc gag gcc      337 Ser Ala Glu Leu Leu Leu Gly Gln Leu Asn Al #a Glu His Ala Glu Ala      95              #    100              #    105 gat gtg cgg cgt gtg ctg ctg cag gcc ttc ga #t gtg gtg gag agg agc      385 Asp Val Arg Arg Val Leu Leu Gln Ala Phe As #p Val Val Glu Arg Ser 110                 1 #15                 1 #20                 1 #25 ttc ctg gag tcc att gac gac gcc ttg gct ga #g aag gca agc ctc cag      433 Phe Leu Glu Ser Ile Asp Asp Ala Leu Ala Gl #u Lys Ala Ser Leu Gln                 130   #               135   #               140 tcg caa ttg cca gag gga gtc cct cag cac ca #g ctg cct cct cag tat      481 Ser Gln Leu Pro Glu Gly Val Pro Gln His Gl #n Leu Pro Pro Gln Tyr             145       #           150       #           155 cag aag atc ctt gag aga ctc aag acg tta ga #g agg gaa att tcg gga      529 Gln Lys Ile Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Thr Leu Gl #u Arg Glu Ile Ser Gly         160           #       165           #       170 ggg gcc atg gcc gtt gtg gcg gtc ctt ctc aa #c aac aag ctc tac gtc      577 Gly Ala Met Ala Val Val Ala Val Leu Leu As #n Asn Lys Leu Tyr Val     175               #   180               #   185 gcc aat gtc ggt aca aac cgt gca ctt tta tg #c aaa tcg aca gtg gat      625 Ala Asn Val Gly Thr Asn Arg Ala Leu Leu Cy #s Lys Ser Thr Val Asp 190                 1 #95                 2 #00                 2 #05 ggg ttg cag gtg aca cag ctg aac gtg gac ca #c acc aca gag aac gag      673 Gly Leu Gln Val Thr Gln Leu Asn Val Asp Hi #s Thr Thr Glu Asn Glu                 210   #               215   #               220 gat gag ctc ttc cgt ctt tcg cag ctg ggc tt #g gat gct gga aag atc      721 Asp Glu Leu Phe Arg Leu Ser Gln Leu Gly Le #u Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile             225       #           230       #           235 aag cag gtg ggg atc atc tgt ggg cag gag ag #c acc cgg cgg atc ggg      769 Lys Gln Val Gly Ile Ile Cys Gly Gln Glu Se #r Thr Arg Arg Ile Gly         240           #       245           #       250 gat tac aag gtt aaa tat ggc tac acg gac at #t gac ctt ctc agc gct      817 Asp Tyr Lys Val Lys Tyr Gly Tyr Thr Asp Il #e Asp Leu Leu Ser Ala     255               #   260               #   265 gcc aag tcc aaa cca atc atc gca gag cca ga #a atc cat ggg gca cag      865 Ala Lys Ser Lys Pro Ile Ile Ala Glu Pro Gl #u Ile His Gly Ala Gln 270                 2 #75                 2 #80                 2 #85 ccg ctg gat ggg gtg acg ggc ttc ttg gtg ct #g atg tcg gag ggg ttg      913 Pro Leu Asp Gly Val Thr Gly Phe Leu Val Le #u Met Ser Glu Gly Leu                 290   #               295   #               300 tac aag gcc cta gag gca gcc cat ggg cct gg #g cag gcc aac cag gag      961 Tyr Lys Ala Leu Glu Ala Ala His Gly Pro Gl #y Gln Ala Asn Gln Glu             305       #           310       #           315 att gct gcg atg att gac act gag ttt gcc aa #g cag acc tcc ctg gac     1009 Ile Ala Ala Met Ile Asp Thr Glu Phe Ala Ly #s Gln Thr Ser Leu Asp         320           #       325           #       330 gca gtg gcc cag gcc gtc gtg gac cgg gtg aa #g cgc atc cac agc gac     1057 Ala Val Ala Gln Ala Val Val Asp Arg Val Ly #s Arg Ile His Ser Asp     335               #   340               #   345 acc ttc gcc agt ggt ggg gag cgt gcc agg tt #c tgc ccc cgg cac gag     1105 Thr Phe Ala Ser Gly Gly Glu Arg Ala Arg Ph #e Cys Pro Arg His Glu 350                 3 #55                 3 #60                 3 #65 gac atg acc ctg cta gtg agg aac ttt ggc ta #c ccg ctg ggc caa atg     1153 Asp Met Thr Leu Leu Val Arg Asn Phe Gly Ty #r Pro Leu Gly Gln Met                 370   #               375   #               380 agc cag ccc aca ccg agc cca gcc cca gct gc #a gga gga cga gtg tac     1201 Ser Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ala Al #a Gly Gly Arg Val Tyr             385       #           390       #           395 cct gtg tct gtg cca tac tcc agc gcc cag ag #c acc agc aag acc agc     1249 Pro Val Ser Val Pro Tyr Ser Ser Ala Gln Se #r Thr Ser Lys Thr Ser         400           #       405           #       410 gtg acc ctc tcc ctt gtc atg ccc tcc cag gg #c cag atg gtc aac ggg     1297 Val Thr Leu Ser Leu Val Met Pro Ser Gln Gl #y Gln Met Val Asn Gly     415               #   420               #   425 gct cac agt gct tcc acc ctg gac gaa gcc ac #c ccc acc ctc acc aac     1345 Ala His Ser Ala Ser Thr Leu Asp Glu Ala Th #r Pro Thr Leu Thr Asn 430                 4 #35                 4 #40                 4 #45 caa agc ccg acc tta acc ctg cag tcc acc aa #c acg cac acg cag agc     1393 Gln Ser Pro Thr Leu Thr Leu Gln Ser Thr As #n Thr His Thr Gln Ser                 450   #               455   #               460 agc agc tcc agc tct gac gga ggc ctc ttc cg #c tcc cgg ccc gcc cac     1441 Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Gly Gly Leu Phe Ar #g Ser Arg Pro Ala His             465       #           470       #           475 tcg ctc ccg cct ggc gag gac ggt cgt gtt ga #g ccc tat gtg gac ttt     1489 Ser Leu Pro Pro Gly Glu Asp Gly Arg Val Gl #u Pro Tyr Val Asp Phe         480           #       485           #       490 gct gag ttt tac cgc ctc tgg agc gtg gac ca #t ggc gag cag agc gtg     1537 Ala Glu Phe Tyr Arg Leu Trp Ser Val Asp Hi #s Gly Glu Gln Ser Val     495               #   500               #   505 gtg aca gca ccg tgatgagcgg ccgcatcgt       #                   #        1568 Val Thr Ala Pro 510 <210> SEQ ID NO 43 <211> LENGTH: 513 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens <400> SEQUENCE: 43 Met Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Met Al #a Ala Gln Arg Arg Ser   1               5  #                 10  #                 15 Leu Leu Gln Ser Glu Gln Gln Pro Ser Trp Th #r Asp Asp Leu Pro Leu              20      #             25      #             30 Cys His Leu Ser Gly Val Gly Ser Ala Ser As #n Arg Ser Tyr Ser Ala          35          #         40          #         45 Asp Gly Lys Gly Thr Glu Ser His Pro Pro Gl #u Asp Ser Trp Leu Lys      50              #     55              #     60 Phe Arg Ser Glu Asn Asn Cys Phe Leu Tyr Gl #y Val Phe Asn Gly Tyr  65                  # 70                  # 75                  # 80 Asp Gly Asn Arg Val Thr Asn Phe Val Ala Gl #n Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu                  85  #                 90  #                 95 Leu Leu Leu Gly Gln Leu Asn Ala Glu His Al #a Glu Ala Asp Val Arg             100       #           105       #           110 Arg Val Leu Leu Gln Ala Phe Asp Val Val Gl #u Arg Ser Phe Leu Glu         115           #       120           #       125 Ser Ile Asp Asp Ala Leu Ala Glu Lys Ala Se #r Leu Gln Ser Gln Leu     130               #   135               #   140 Pro Glu Gly Val Pro Gln His Gln Leu Pro Pr #o Gln Tyr Gln Lys Ile 145                 1 #50                 1 #55                 1 #60 Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Thr Leu Glu Arg Glu Il #e Ser Gly Gly Ala Met                 165   #               170   #               175 Ala Val Val Ala Val Leu Leu Asn Asn Lys Le #u Tyr Val Ala Asn Val             180       #           185       #           190 Gly Thr Asn Arg Ala Leu Leu Cys Lys Ser Th #r Val Asp Gly Leu Gln         195           #       200           #       205 Val Thr Gln Leu Asn Val Asp His Thr Thr Gl #u Asn Glu Asp Glu Leu     210               #   215               #   220 Phe Arg Leu Ser Gln Leu Gly Leu Asp Ala Gl #y Lys Ile Lys Gln Val 225                 2 #30                 2 #35                 2 #40 Gly Ile Ile Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Arg Ar #g Ile Gly Asp Tyr Lys                 245   #               250   #               255 Val Lys Tyr Gly Tyr Thr Asp Ile Asp Leu Le #u Ser Ala Ala Lys Ser             260       #           265       #           270 Lys Pro Ile Ile Ala Glu Pro Glu Ile His Gl #y Ala Gln Pro Leu Asp         275           #       280           #       285 Gly Val Thr Gly Phe Leu Val Leu Met Ser Gl #u Gly Leu Tyr Lys Ala     290               #   295               #   300 Leu Glu Ala Ala His Gly Pro Gly Gln Ala As #n Gln Glu Ile Ala Ala 305                 3 #10                 3 #15                 3 #20 Met Ile Asp Thr Glu Phe Ala Lys Gln Thr Se #r Leu Asp Ala Val Ala                 325   #               330   #               335 Gln Ala Val Val Asp Arg Val Lys Arg Ile Hi #s Ser Asp Thr Phe Ala             340       #           345       #           350 Ser Gly Gly Glu Arg Ala Arg Phe Cys Pro Ar #g His Glu Asp Met Thr         355           #       360           #       365 Leu Leu Val Arg Asn Phe Gly Tyr Pro Leu Gl #y Gln Met Ser Gln Pro     370               #   375               #   380 Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Gly Ar #g Val Tyr Pro Val Ser 385                 3 #90                 3 #95                 4 #00 Val Pro Tyr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ser Thr Ser Ly #s Thr Ser Val Thr Leu                 405   #               410   #               415 Ser Leu Val Met Pro Ser Gln Gly Gln Met Va #l Asn Gly Ala His Ser             420       #           425       #           430 Ala Ser Thr Leu Asp Glu Ala Thr Pro Thr Le #u Thr Asn Gln Ser Pro         435           #       440           #       445 Thr Leu Thr Leu Gln Ser Thr Asn Thr His Th #r Gln Ser Ser Ser Ser     450               #   455               #   460 Ser Ser Asp Gly Gly Leu Phe Arg Ser Arg Pr #o Ala His Ser Leu Pro 465                 4 #70                 4 #75                 4 #80 Pro Gly Glu Asp Gly Arg Val Glu Pro Tyr Va #l Asp Phe Ala Glu Phe                 485   #               490   #               495 Tyr Arg Leu Trp Ser Val Asp His Gly Glu Gl #n Ser Val Val Thr Ala             500       #           505       #           510 Pro <210> SEQ ID NO 44 <211> LENGTH: 51 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 44 cccgaattcc accatggact acaaggatga cgacgacaag atggcggcgc a  #             51 <210> SEQ ID NO 45 <211> LENGTH: 35 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 45 gatgcggccg ctcatcacgg tgctgtcacc acgct        #                   #       35 <210> SEQ ID NO 46 <211> LENGTH: 34 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 46 ccgctcgagg acggcccgcc cactcgctcc cgcc        #                   #        34 <210> SEQ ID NO 47 <211> LENGTH: 34 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 47 ccgctcgagg actcccgcct ggcgaggacg gtcg        #                   #        34 <210> SEQ ID NO 48 <211> LENGTH: 34 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial  #Sequence: Synthetic       DNA <400> SEQUENCE: 48 ccgctcgagg agacggtcgt gttgagccct atgt        #                   #        34 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide with the TAB1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound Tak1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 2. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide with the TAB1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 3. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide with the TAB1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 4. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting TAK1 polypeptide and the TAB1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAK1 polypeptide with the TAB1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAK1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAB1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAK1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 5. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide with the TAK1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 6. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide with the TAK1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 7. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Ser at amino acid position 579 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Gln at amino acid position 437 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide with the TAK1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b).
 8. A method for screening substances that inhibit binding between a transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) polypeptide and TAK1-binding (TAB1) polypeptide, wherein the TAK1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Val at amino acid position 76 to Gln at amino acid position 303 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAB1 polypeptide, and the TAB1 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or has the amino acid sequence modified by the substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence comprising Met at amino acid position 1 to Pro at amino acid position 504 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and maintaining the biological activity of the TAK1 polypeptide, which method comprises: (1)(a) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide and the TAK1 polypeptide with a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide, (b) contacting the TAB1 polypeptide with the TAK1 polypeptide in the absence of a test sample, and detecting or determining the amount of the TAB1 polypeptide that is bound to the TAK1 polypeptide; and then (2) comparing the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(a) to the amount of bound TAB1 polypeptide obtained in the step (1)(b). 